Iran and Qatar enter third day of peace talks in Doha
Negotiators are working on a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while Washington watches ahead of midterm elections.
By Olga Menon ·
Iranian officials spent their third consecutive day in Doha on Sunday negotiating a potential end to the war with the United States and Israel. The discussions are being facilitated by Qatari mediators who have been shuttling between Tehran and Washington. An official briefed on the process confirmed that the talks are currently taking place in the Qatari capital.
A key point of contention involves the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil transport. According to an interview with Al Jazeera, Iranian and Qatari negotiators have drafted a proposal that would allow the strait to reopen within 48 hours of a final agreement with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Sunday that discussions regarding this two-day proposal are ongoing, although no final conclusion has been reached yet.
The diplomatic push is happening against a specific political backdrop in the United States. President Donald Trump has indicated that he will not authorize new military strikes on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. He described the current negotiations as productive but left the door open for further military action after the vote. This timeline creates a narrow window for diplomats to secure a deal before the US political calendar shifts.
In Tehran, leaders are signaling a dual strategy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces on Saturday to remain prepared for any potential attacks. The military subsequently announced measures to strengthen its readiness. Araqchi told state media that Iran is ready for both defense and diplomacy, emphasizing that the country is doing its best to prioritize rationality in the process.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a similar perspective on Saturday. He noted that President Trump has not yet made a final decision on launching new strikes but prefers a diplomatic resolution. The current talks in Doha are part of a regular contact loop with Washington, ensuring that both sides are aligned as they work through the details of the ceasefire framework.
The eight-month conflict has already disrupted global energy supplies and spread instability across the Middle East. Iran has warned that any new attacks would trigger strikes on US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries. As the negotiators continue their work in Doha, the focus remains on whether the two-day proposal for the Strait of Hormuz can serve as the basis for a lasting agreement.
