Iran, Qatar Hold Third Day of Talks to End US-Iran War

Iranian negotiators and Qatari mediators held a third day of talks in Doha on Sunday as diplomatic efforts intensified to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.

An Iranian official briefed on the discussions said the negotiations focused on finding a possible agreement to halt the conflict and prevent further escalation.

The talks come ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with uncertainty over whether Washington could resume military action against Iran after the vote.

US President Donald Trump has said the United States would not launch fresh attacks on Iran before the elections. He has also described the diplomatic contacts as productive, while leaving open the possibility of further military action afterwards.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the discussions with Qatari mediators remained focused on diplomacy, although Tehran continued to prepare for possible military action.

He described the talks as “ongoing and progressing” and said Iran remained ready for “both defence and diplomacy”.

Araqchi also confirmed that discussions continued around a proposal that could pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within two days of an agreement with Washington.

The proposal emerged from consultations between Iranian and Qatari negotiators, according to Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy route, and the conflict has already disrupted oil supplies while raising tensions across the Middle East.

Iran has repeatedly warned that any fresh attacks would trigger strikes against US and Israeli targets in neighbouring countries.

Araqchi, however, said Tehran remained committed to finding a diplomatic solution through the talks with Qatar.

“We are doing our best in this process, and we hope that there is rationality on the other side so that they prioritise diplomacy over other paths,” he said.

The diplomatic push followed a warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who ordered the armed forces on Saturday to remain prepared for any attack.

The Iranian military subsequently announced measures to strengthen its readiness.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had yet to decide whether to order fresh strikes against Iran.

Rubio said the president preferred to resolve the conflict through diplomacy, keeping the door open to further negotiations.

Qatar has played a central role in the latest diplomatic contacts. Its mediators travelled to Tehran on Friday for discussions with Iranian officials before moving the negotiations to Doha on Saturday.

The talks, according to an official briefed on the process, have continued alongside regular contacts with Washington.

The latest discussions therefore represent a renewed effort to secure a diplomatic pathway out of the conflict, even as both sides maintain military preparations.

For now, the outcome remains uncertain as Iranian and Qatari officials continue consultations on the proposed terms.