Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war

Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Sunday for their third consecutive day of discussions with Qatari mediators, in an effort to negotiate a deal that would end the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a source familiar with the talks. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about a potential escalation after the November 3 US midterm elections.

US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will refrain from launching new attacks on Iran before the vote and that the talks with Tehran have been productive, although he has not entirely ruled out the possibility of further military action afterward. Iran has repeatedly warned that in response to any new attacks, it would target US and Israeli interests in neighboring nations, as the eight-month-long war continues to disrupt global oil supplies and spread across the Middle East.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces to be prepared to respond to any attacks, and the military later announced steps to enhance its readiness. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Saturday that Trump has not yet decided whether to launch new strikes against Iran, but expressed a preference for resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.

Qatari mediators had been in Tehran on Friday to engage in talks with Iranian officials before moving the discussions to Doha on Saturday, as per an official briefing with Reuters. The talks are being coordinated through regular contacts with Washington, as confirmed by the same source.