Iranian Official Meets Mediators       07/21 06:26

   An Iranian official began meetings Tuesday with mediators in Pakistan as 
diplomats sought to salvage the collapsed interim deal between Iran and the 
United States, even as both countries continued to launch attacks for a 10th 
day of renewed fighting.

   ISLAMABAD (AP) -- An Iranian official began meetings Tuesday with mediators 
in Pakistan as diplomats sought to salvage the collapsed interim deal between 
Iran and the United States, even as both countries continued to launch attacks 
for a 10th day of renewed fighting.

   The visit by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni comes as Pakistan has 
intensified diplomatic efforts in recent days to resuscitate the deal. However, 
it remains unclear just what new arrangement could be reached to end the 
fighting.

   Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, forcing its 
crew to abandon the ship, while the United States conducted yet another round 
of airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic.

   The 10 consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes haven't compelled Tehran to 
loosen its grip on the strait, through which about a fifth of all crude oil and 
natural gas traded once passed in peacetime.

   The interim deal signed last month that was meant to end the fighting has 
crumbled. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. And as 
fighting intensifies, both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied 
on by millions of people.

   "Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas 
or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the 
world," the U.S. State Department said in a new warning to Americans.

   The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks. Benchmark Brent 
crude traded Tuesday at nearly $90 a barrel and regular gasoline in the U.S. 
climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans' wallets 
ahead of midterm elections this fall.

   President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to warn that "Every 
time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times 
over!"

   Iranian official begins meetings in Pakistan

   Momeni met Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to two 
officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door 
negotiations. Momeni later met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

   Pakistan's political leadership and Munir, who serves as both the chief of 
army staff and defense forces, have played a key role in brokering last month's 
interim agreement between the United States and Iran. Islamabad has been 
working to persuade both sides to return to the negotiating table to resolve 
outstanding issues under the June memorandum of understanding.

   Authorities did not immediately release details of the meeting, which came 
as Tehran continued its attacks on Gulf Arab allies of the U.S.

   On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. 
is still open to negotiating with Iran but that "it has to be real." It remains 
unclear whether Tehran will offer anything that Trump would consider "real."

   US strikes come as ships attacked

   The U.S. military's Central Command said Tuesday it targeted "Iranian 
military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites 
and air defense systems." It released more footage of bombings that targeted 
sites in Iran.

   "American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for 
unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly 
transit the strait," the command said.

   Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, 
Ilam, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.

   However, traffic through the strait has slowed to a crawl during the latest 
violence. Lloyd's List Intelligence said only three ships transited the strait 
on Sunday.

   The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said 
a tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the strait off Oman, forcing the 
crew to abandon the vessel.

   Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, as well as two 
other attacks on ships Monday in the waterway.

   The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged 
ships to travel to avoid Iran's control. The UKMTO separately reported Tuesday 
that another previously unknown attack on a ship took place early the previous 
day.

   Iran strikes US allies around the region

   Tehran also hit U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Jordan 
military's said Tuesday that Iran targeted it with five drones and three 
missiles, all of which were shot down. Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens 
Tuesday afternoon as another Iranian barrage targeted the island kingdom, which 
is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

   In Kuwait, its Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said that 
Tehran had struck desalination and power plants for a fourth straight day on 
Monday night. Authorities said the attacks sparked fires and caused damage.

   Some 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from desalination, making the 
attacks a matter of life and death for the tiny nation.

   U.S. strikes have been hitting electrical equipment in Iran as well, and 
Iranian officials also have said Americans targeted water facilities.