The United States paused attacks on Iran for a second consecutive day on Sunday, and Tehran said it had also halted its strikes, as diplomatic efforts continued to return both countries to negotiations over an interim ceasefire deal that has been badly weakened by recent exchanges of fire.

The reason for the U.S. pause was not immediately clear. Washington had been targeting Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure during a nearly two-week escalation that began after Iran fired at ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions on Sunday.

“President (Donald) Trump has always been consistent in saying he prefers a diplomatic solution, but he continues to retain all options if Iran continues terrorist activities in the Strait of Hormuz or against allies,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said. He added: “It would be wise for Iran to work toward a negotiated deal. Otherwise, they know what will happen.”

Iran has also stopped attacks during the past two nights while the United States has halted its strikes, an Iranian army spokesperson told Iran’s state TV on Sunday. In recent days, Tehran has counterattacked against countries in the region that host U.S. military forces, killing at least three people at a base in Jordan.

The 60-day period that began when the interim deal was signed by both countries in mid-June is now well into its second half. Major issues that were supposed to be negotiated, especially Iran’s nuclear program, which remains central to the tensions, have been set aside as mediators try to keep both sides engaged in talks.

A regional official involved in mediation efforts said diplomacy was continuing and described the pause in U.S. and Iranian strikes as a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate.”

The official said both countries want to return to the interim ceasefire deal. According to the official, the compromise under negotiation centers on allowing Iran to manage vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz with fewer restrictions on ships. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Concerns about shipping continued on the Strait of Hormuz and have expanded to another critical regional waterway, the Bab al-Mandeb strait to the Red Sea. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last week threatened a blockade of Saudi shipping there. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for oil and liquefied natural gas exports from Gulf producers, while the Bab al-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider route toward the Suez Canal.

Global energy supplies and the broader economy remain at risk as gasoline prices have risen again.

Iran said Sunday that it was continuing talks with Oman on managing the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the two countries. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said the talks had made progress and were ongoing.

Baghaei also said the status of the strait remained unchanged. Tehran has maintained that the interim deal with the United States allows it to manage shipping on the waterway for now, and it has objected to U.S. efforts to support a route through the strait that passes closer to Oman instead.

The U.S. military said Saturday that its recently reimposed naval blockade against Iran was continuing. It said a dozen commercial ships had been redirected, two had been disabled and two had been boarded. U.S. forces “remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready,” the military added.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to travel to the United States and meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, according to Netanyahu’s office. The two last met in Washington in February, weeks before they launched the war on Iran that killed senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah fired at Israel two days after the war began, and Israel responded with airstrikes and ground forces in southern Lebanon. Since then, the United States has supported landmark direct talks between Lebanon and Israel aimed at calming that front and finding a way to disarm Hezbollah.

Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that he “fully” supports Trump’s efforts to weaken Iran and press it to end its nuclear program. “If he can do so without returning to intense military fighting, that’s fine. Why not?” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister indicated that he would not present new information to “our good friend” Trump and would instead listen to “what he has in mind, because I think in many ways, it’s his decision.”

Netanyahu also warned that if Iran again attacks Israel, either directly or through armed proxies, “it will make a terrible mistake.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com