Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war

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Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Sunday for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official briefed on the discussions told Reuters.

The talks come amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after the November 3 US midterm elections. President Donald Trump has said the United States will not launch new attacks on Iran before the vote and that talks with Tehran have been productive, though he has not ruled out further military action afterwards.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the purpose of the "ongoing and progressing" talks was to continue consultations with the Qatari mediators, adding Tehran is prepared for "both defense and diplomacy."

Speaking to state media, Araqchi said discussions on a "two-day proposal" were continuing, but that no final conclusion had been reached.

Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera quoted Araqchi as saying in an interview on Saturday that Iranian and Qatari negotiators had developed a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days of a potential agreement with Washington.

Iran has repeatedly said it would respond to any new attacks by striking US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries, as the eight-month-old war continues to disrupt global oil supplies and spill over across the Middle East.

"We are doing our best in this process, and we hope that there is rationality on the other side so that they prioritize diplomacy over other paths," Araqchi said of the talks with Qatari officials.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday ordered the armed forces to be prepared for any attack, while the military later announced steps to strengthen its readiness.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Trump has not decided whether to launch new strikes against Iran, but would prefer to resolve the conflict diplomatically.

Qatari mediators were in Tehran on Friday for discussions with Iranian officials before moving the talks to Doha on Saturday, an official had told Reuters. The talks were being coordinated in regular contacts with Washington, the official added. — Reuters