Middle East latest: Trump plays down prospect of new strikes on Iran

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, at the White House on Monday, as reported by the White House schedule. This meeting comes amid ongoing tensions with Iran and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which are encountering significant hurdles. Vice President Kamala Harris will also join the Qatari leader in a closed-door session.

Qatar has been instrumental in mediating between the United States and Iran, presenting proposals and attempting to reconcile their differences regarding Iran's nuclear program and the terms for ending the conflict. However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported on Sunday that negotiations with Iran have yielded little progress and that he does not foresee an imminent breakthrough.

During a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris, Blinken described Iran's demands as "unacceptable" in certain instances, labeling them as "outrageous and ridiculous" and not realistic.

While Trump has expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution, he has warned against new strikes against Iran if negotiations prove fruitful and yield a robust agreement. He stated that the United States has identified additional infrastructure targets, such as bridges, should military action be resumed.