Iran's Rejection of Mediation Brings It Closer to War
Iran rejected the Qatari mediation proposal for de-escalation, increasing the likelihood of military confrontation with the US and Israel amid American naval and air preparations.
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
Chances of de-escalation in the region have diminished following Iran’s rejection of Qatari mediation, as indicators point to a renewed military confrontation with the United States and Israel. Tehran had been expected, according to an official who spoke with Reuters, to respond to Doha’s proposal by the end of this week. The proposal included a timeline starting next week and extending over seven days to address the concerns of Washington and Tehran through daily confidence-building measures to be committed to by both sides. However, Tehran found these “unacceptable ideas.”
An Iranian official stated that Tehran’s stance of refusing to show flexibility on the nuclear file “has not changed,” adding that Qatar “had not presented a new proposal to end the war.”
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump did not rule out strikes on Iran after the midterm elections scheduled for next month, saying, “Everything is possible.” However, reports citing informed officials indicated that Washington is preparing for a “short and intensive military campaign” against Iran to weaken its capabilities and push it toward negotiations.
Preparations suggest the possibility of adding an extra carrier group and a Marine expeditionary unit to a fleet of approximately 20 warships operating in the Middle East during the coming month. According to the informed official, the draft includes a seven-day timeline to address the concerns of Washington and Tehran through daily confidence-building measures to be implemented by both sides, with execution set to begin early next week, under the guarantee of several countries. Details of the plan and the nature of the commitments it entails remain unclear.
The informed official said that mediators coordinated with Washington before heading to Tehran to discuss the draft.
Qatar, alongside regional countries, is leading mediation efforts as the repercussions of the war have extended to shipping movements and oil supplies, amid an expanding regional confrontation.
