Oman and Qatar are leading efforts to begin ceasefire negotiations. Conciliators said Iran was ready to resume nuclear talks if Israeli attacks stopped.
Unnamed Iranian officials told mediators that the country was ready to resume nuclear talks with the US, but first Iran wanted Israel to stop the strikes.
An Iranian official said Tehran's stance was "never leave the negotiation table, but not negotiate when we are being attacked".
Second officials said Oman and Qatar are leading efforts to begin ceasefire negotiations. This is part of a strong effort by Gulf countries to extinguish the escalating conflict, which began on June 13, when Israel began attacking Iran.
In April this year, Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman visited Tehran, a sign that the relationship between rivals in the region is warming up. Here, Mr. Shihabi conveyed the message that Israel is "finding an excuse to attack" and that Iran should negotiate with the US about its nuclear program. Saudi Arabia has also pledged not to "participate in any form" in military operations against Iran.
"The Gulf region has built a good relationship with Iran over the past year, so I don't think the Irans want to put that in a dangerous position," Shihabi said. He pointed out that the risk of Iran's allies in the region being able to act unilaterally has also decreased.
