Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war
Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Sunday for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at securing a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official briefed on the discussions told Reuters.
The talks come amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after the November 3 US midterm elections. President Donald Trump has said the United States will not launch new attacks on Iran before the vote and that discussions with Tehran have been productive, although he has not ruled out further military action afterwards.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the purpose of the “ongoing and progressing” talks was to continue consultations with Qatari mediators, adding that Tehran was prepared for “both defence and diplomacy”.
Speaking to state media, Araqchi said discussions on a “two-day proposal” were continuing, but no final conclusion had been reached.
Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera quoted Araqchi as saying in an interview on Saturday that Iranian and Qatari negotiators had developed a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days of a potential agreement with Washington.
Iran has repeatedly warned that it would respond to any fresh attacks by striking US and Israeli targets in neighbouring countries, as the eight-month-old war continues to disrupt global oil supplies and spread across the Middle East.
“We are doing our best in this process, and we hope there is rationality on the other side so that they prioritise diplomacy over other paths,” Araqchi said of the discussions with Qatari officials.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday ordered the armed forces to prepare for any attack, while the military later announced measures to strengthen its readiness.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Trump had yet to decide whether to launch fresh strikes against Iran but preferred to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.
Qatari mediators were in Tehran on Friday for discussions with Iranian officials before moving the talks to Doha on Saturday, an official told Reuters. The official added that the discussions were being coordinated through regular contacts with Washington.
Credit: Reuters
