IRAN’S Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi called for “dialogue and diplomacy” today as Tehran reviewed a US peace proposal to end the war.

The 14-point proposal leaves Washington’s demands that Iran suspend its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz unchanged.

Mr Araghchi spoke by phone with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar about the latest regional developments today.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said his country expected “an agreement sooner rather than later,” though he declined to give a timeline or disclose details of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

US President Donald Trump said he had “very good talks” with Iran and that “it’s very possible we’ll make a deal.”

On Tuesday he paused Project Freedom — his operation to reopen the blockaded strait — citing progress in peace talks.

The de facto blockade threatens to cause a global recession and Iran has been pressing to retain control of the waterway.

Tehran-based analyst Ali Akbar Dareini said that Mr Trump was seeking a deal that would allow him to save face after failing to reopen Hormuz by force.

“He was sold a narrative by Israel and the Israeli lobby in the US that if you launch an attack on Iran, Iran will back down and surrender,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Iran has not capitulated and will not capitulate even in a million years.”

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed cautious optimism, saying there was “a high prospect of finding a diplomatic solution” despite divergent positions in both countries.

Meanwhile, Israel launched fresh strikes on Beirut — the first attack on the Lebanese capital since a supposed ceasefire began on April 17 — and issued forced displacement orders for residents of three southern Lebanese towns.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israel has killed more than 2,700 people since March 2, including dozens since the ceasefire came into effect.

In Gaza, at least nine Palestinians were killed and 39 wounded in Israeli attacks over 24 hours.

Since the US-brokered October ceasefire, 846 people in Gaza have been killed and 2,418 injured.

Israel and Lebanon are expected to send delegations to Washington for talks on May 14 and 15, covering Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, displaced persons and reconstruction.