Qatar Awaits US-Iranian Response Within 36 Hours

Washington, D.C. – Agencies: Qatar, acting as a mediator, announced yesterday that it still “hopes” to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, as both sides review proposals submitted by Doha. Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists: “There is still a commitment to the negotiation track by both sides, and we are exchanging proposals in real time,” adding that they are “reviewing the ideas and proposals presented by us.” Al-Ansari emphasized that trust between Tehran and Washington is built through specific measures and actions, which is what we are working on.” In this context, a source familiar with US-Iran talks revealed that Qatari mediators expect to receive responses from both sides within 36 hours regarding a new proposal to advance the talks, according to Reuters. US President Donald Trump raised doubts late Monday (Tuesday) about whether he would proceed with his threat to resume military strikes against Iran following yesterday’s midterm elections, stating that he believes Tehran wants to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism, along with Trump, about the possibility of reaching an agreement. He told journalists on Monday: “We have already made some progress, and we will see if we can achieve more.” Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official told Reuters yesterday that Iran and the United States are still far from reaching an agreement to end the war. The senior Iranian official stated: “Mediators are working closely to narrow the gaps between Tehran and Washington.” Qatari mediators traveled to Tehran on Monday evening to hold talks on a version of the US-Iran draft agreement, which has been under negotiation for eight days. The Iranian official stressed that “Tehran’s conditions must be met if the United States wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that nuclear talks can only begin after that and that Tehran will not accept “excessive demands from Washington.” Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said yesterday that the ball is now in the US court after Tehran presented what he described as a “strong and rational” response to Washington. The senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would respond forcefully to US strikes in the region and beyond. Qalibaf noted that Tehran’s response to any miscalculations by the United States would be unexpected and would not be limited by geographical constraints. On the ground, the United States launched “defensive strikes” on Iran’s Qeshm Island. A US official stated that the strikes targeted surface-to-air missiles used against US assets. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it shot down a US MQ-9 drone overnight east of the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, targeted the strategic Qeshm Island located in the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, and other media outlets quoted unnamed US officials saying the attacks were defensive. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal noted that these strikes are part of a series of covert US operations against Iran, which have not been officially announced to avoid giving the impression that Washington intends to resume large-scale military operations. In turn, Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reported five consecutive explosions that shook Qeshm, while residents reported seeing two aircraft flying overhead. The agency did not clarify the cause of the explosions.