Iranian officials met Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday to explore ways out of the ongoing Gulf conflict. A source briefed on the discussions said the talks aim to stop fresh fighting after the US midterm elections. The same source noted that Doha has stayed in regular contact with Washington throughout the process.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that President Donald Trump has not yet decided on new strikes against Iran. Rubio stressed that the president prefers a diplomatic solution but remains confident that America could act militarily if needed. Trump had paused any major action ahead of the midterms that will decide control of Congress.
Talks in Qatar followed more than twelve hours of meetings between Iranian and Qatari envoys in Tehran the day before. Regional countries expect Trump might restart attacks once voting ends. Iran has warned it would hit US and Israeli targets in neighbouring states if attacked again.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces on Saturday to stay fully prepared for any threat. He said every type of danger must receive an immediate and unrestricted response. Commanders reported high readiness along the Gulf coast, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and Iran’s borders.
Security chief Mohsen Rezaei revealed that Tehran is debating whether to end its long-standing ban on nuclear weapons if fighting resumes, though no final decision has been made. He added that nuclear talks can only start once Washington accepts Iran’s core demands.
Qatar earlier proposed a seven-day trust-building plan with daily steps by both sides. Tehran found the idea unsatisfactory. Iran itself has offered a different seven-day plan since September that calls for lifting the port blockade, unfreezing assets and opening a safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran is still studying a recent letter from US Vice President JD Vance while insisting its own plan remains the only realistic path forward.
Diplomacy continues even as gaps remain. Both sides keep talking through intermediaries, hoping to avoid a wider war.
