Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 18 and urged pursuit of talks with Iran while offering Ankara's support for de-escalation. Turkey maintained contacts with the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar and discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian officials. Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire, progress on tanker traffic stalled, and Iran signaled a shift to an offensive posture.