Iran and Qatar Hold Talks as Fears of US Strikes After the Midterms Grow

Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday to look for a way out of the Gulf war, after more than twelve hours of talks in Tehran on Friday. A source briefed on the discussions said the contacts are being coordinated regularly with Washington. Diplomats are racing to prevent new fighting once the US midterm elections are over. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump has not decided on fresh strikes and would prefer a diplomatic solution, while stressing that talks have never stopped.

Khamenei Orders Armed Forces to Stay Ready

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei told the military to be prepared for an immediate and geographically unrestricted response to any threat, and the army said it is improving readiness. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran is debating whether to lift its ban on nuclear weapons if fighting resumes, though no decision has been made.

Competing Seven Day Plans and Vance’s Letter

Qatar proposed a seven day plan of daily trust building steps, which a senior Iranian official called unsatisfactory. Iran’s own plan, which Trump has rejected, demands an end to the port blockade, unfrozen assets and an approved Hormuz route. Vice President JD Vance also wrote to Rezaei, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran is studying it.