Trump to meet Iran war mediator Qatar, no imminent deal seen to end the war

US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, on Monday in an effort to halt the ongoing Iran war. This follows the recent midterm elections, which have raised concerns about the likelihood of a swift resolution to the conflict. Despite the fact that no victory has been achieved in the eight months since the war began in February, Trump has downplayed the possibility of renewed major warfare in the near future.

However, he remains unwilling to accept Iran's proposed truce plan, which involves lifting some sanctions and halting bombing in exchange for Tehran's cessation of its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has defended the plan as the most reasonable offer at the table. Senior US Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, have blamed their party's poor performance in the recent elections on the Iran war, yet they remain skeptical of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.

Vance is also set to meet with Al-Thani during the meeting. The conflict has led to military strikes on both sides, with the US targeting Iran's Qeshm island and Iran attacking tankers in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The war has also had broader implications, including triggering a global energy shortage and reigniting Yemen's long-standing civil war.