Iranian and Qatari Envoys Discuss Ending Gulf War as U.S. Strike Fears Loom

Iranian negotiators held talks in Doha on Saturday with Qatari mediators to discuss ending the Gulf war, as diplomats seek to avoid a new round of fighting after this week's U.S. midterm elections. The talks followed discussions lasting over 12 hours on Friday between Iranian and Qatari envoys in Tehran, with coordination through regular contact with Washington, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement ordering armed forces to prepare for responding to any attacks, while the U.S. has shown openness to diplomacy through a recent letter from Vice President J.D. Vance to an Iranian security official. Qatar presented a seven-day proposal for confidence-building steps between the U.S. and Iran, but Tehran was unenthusiastic, preferring its own plan from September that calls for lifting sanctions and unfreezing assets. President Trump has repeatedly signaled intent to resume strikes on Iran, which has vowed to target American and Israeli interests in neighboring countries in response.