Iran continues diplomatic talks in Qatar to halt conflict with US and Israel

Negotiators representing Iran held a third straight day of meetings with Qatari mediators in Doha on Sunday, working toward an agreement to conclude the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, according to an official briefed on the dialogue.

The diplomatic push unfolds against heightened anxieties over potential military escalation following the upcoming U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3. U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Washington will hold off on initiating fresh strikes against Iran ahead of the ballot, noting that discussions with Tehran have yielded progress. However, he has kept the possibility of future armed intervention open once voting concludes.

Simultaneously, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Saturday that Trump had yet to make a final determination regarding additional strikes against Iran, emphasizing that the administration favors reaching a diplomatic conclusion to the standoff.

The eight-month conflict has disrupted worldwide petroleum supplies and generated unrest across the wider region. Tehran has consistently warned that any renewed assaults would prompt retaliatory strikes directed at American and Israeli assets situated in nearby nations.

Underscoring Tehran's defensive posture, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released a statement on Saturday directing Iran's armed forces to maintain readiness for potential incoming attacks. Following the directive, the Iranian military confirmed it was taking concrete measures to bolster its operational preparedness.

The current diplomatic circuit began late last week when Qatari intermediaries traveled to Tehran on Friday for preliminary talks with Iranian leadership. The process subsequently shifted to Doha on Saturday. According to the informed official, the Qatari mediation efforts are being closely aligned and coordinated through routine communications with authorities in Washington.