Iran and Qatar enter third day of Doha ceasefire talks

Iranian delegations are in Doha for a third consecutive day of negotiations with Qatari mediators, attempting to secure a deal that would end the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. An official briefed on the discussions confirmed the talks began on Saturday and continued through Sunday.

The primary focus of the current discussions is a specific proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to comments made to Al Jazeera, Iranian and Qatari negotiators have developed a framework that would see the waterway reopen within two days of a final agreement with Washington. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that while consultations on this two-day proposal are continuing, no final conclusion has been reached.

These diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of rising tension tied to the US political calendar. President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States will not launch new attacks on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. He described the current talks as productive but left open the possibility of further military action once the vote is complete. This timing creates pressure to close a deal before the US political environment shifts.

Iran maintains a dual posture of readiness. Araqchi told state media that Tehran is prepared for both defense and diplomacy. He emphasized the need for rationality from the other side to prioritize diplomatic solutions. On Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces to prepare for potential attacks, and the military subsequently announced measures to strengthen its readiness.

The US side remains engaged but cautious. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Trump has not yet decided whether to launch new strikes. Rubio noted that the administration prefers to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. US officials are coordinating the Doha talks through regular contacts with their counterparts in Washington.

The eight-month war has already disrupted global oil supplies and caused spillover effects across the Middle East. Iran has repeatedly warned that it would respond to any new attacks by striking US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries. The Qatari mediators moved from Tehran to Doha on Saturday to continue these high-level consultations.

The process relies on the Qatari capital acting as a neutral ground for these sensitive negotiations. The official briefed on the talks noted that the coordination with Washington is a regular part of the workflow. The outcome of the next 48 hours will determine if the proposed two-day window for reopening the Strait of Hormuz is viable.