Iran Negotiators Engage with Qatari Mediators Amid Looming US Strike Threat
- Qatari mediators proposed a seven-day US‑Iran trust‑building plan, according to an official source.
- Supreme Leader Khamenei has ordered Iran’s armed forces to stand ready for an immediate response to any attacks.
Updated 7 min 17 sec ago
November 1, 2026 02:14
DUBAI/ATLANTA: Iranian envoys convened with Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday to explore potential pathways out of the Gulf conflict, a source briefed by Reuters said. The discussions aim to defuse escalating tensions following the upcoming US midterm elections.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Saturday that President Donald Trump has not yet decided on new strikes against Iran but favors a diplomatic solution to the instability.
Trump has postponed strikes against Iran in recent weeks to avoid complicating the upcoming midterm elections that will determine his Republican Party’s Congressional standing.
Saturday’s Doha talks followed more than 12 hours of negotiations between Iranian and Qatari officials in Tehran. The source maintained the sessions were coordinated through ongoing contacts with Washington.
Regional countries anticipate that US strikes could resume once the electoral results are finalized. Iran has repeatedly warned that any new attacks will be met with a swift, comprehensive response targeting US and Israeli interests in neighboring territories.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on Saturday directing Iran’s armed forces to prepare for any potential aggression. He declared that “any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response,” a message posted on his official Telegram account.
Khamenei noted that senior commanders reported high readiness along the Gulf coastline, in and around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, as well as on Iran’s northwestern and southeastern borders.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei mentioned that Tehran is contemplating whether to lift its long‑standing nuclear weapons ban if hostilities resume, though no final decision has been made. He added that future discussions on Iran’s nuclear program would require Washington to acknowledge Tehran’s demands.
At the G20 summit in Atlanta, Rubio, who hosted foreign ministers from major economies, declined to set a timeline for the Qatar talks but confirmed that direct and indirect communications with Iran are ongoing. “There are multiple talks; actual negotiations have never ceased,” he said.
Rubio emphasized that while the president expressed strong confidence that the United States could act militarily if necessary, diplomatic engagement remains a priority.
The diplomatic effort continues despite differences on core issues. Trump’s earlier remarks suggested he would consider restarting strikes on Iran ahead of the elections, though he later downplayed this letter as intended solely to facilitate a humanitarian aid package.
In the most recent Qatari‑mediated discussions, the Qataristas presented a seven‑day proposal offered to Tehran a week earlier. Under the plan, the US and Iran would take daily measures to build mutual trust in preparation for broader peace negotiations. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that this proposal was not accepted by Tehran.
Iran has repeatedly advocated its own seven‑day framework since September, a proposal previously rejected by Trump. The plan calls for the US to lift a blockade on Iranian ports, unfreeze held assets, and approve an Iranian‑backed maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, after which the contested waterway would be reopened.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran is reviewing Vice President JD Vance’s letter, which sought a new diplomatic track. He noted that the Iranian proposal remains the sole option on the table for reopening the strait.
