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.

By Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah and Elwely Elwelly DUBAI, July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. forces bombed targets in southern Iran overnight after President Donald Trump said Tehran would pay dearly for the deaths of American soldiers,

The United States and Iran launched attacks for a 10th straight night, as concerns grew over a threat from the Houthis, the Iranian-backed militant group in Yemen, to impose a blockade on Saudi ships.

An attack set off hostilities that put the two countries on a path back toward war less than a month after they agreed to stop fighting.

Analysts say Iran is using Gulf states to pressure Washington while avoiding direct confrontation with US forces.

Over the past week, the conflict between the United States and Iran has gone from a simmering tit-for-tat to something that much more resembles all-out war.

U.S. gas prices jumped to an average of $4 a gallon again Monday as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks. According to motor club federation AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now back to $4.

Iran conflict intensified after Tehran claimed attacks on American military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain. The exchange came despite fresh diplomatic outreach aimed at reviving peace talks.