Washington and Tehran Brace for War as Mediation Intensifies

Mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran are intensifying to prevent a resumption of war, with marathon discussions underway in Tehran and Doha showing positive signs for negotiations, while both sides escalate military preparations. Iranian negotiators are in Doha for talks with Qatari mediators following a 12-hour session in Tehran on Friday. The U.S. military is repositioning forces in the Middle East, with 50,000 troops and 20 warships deployed, as President Donald Trump considers new strikes on Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered military commanders to prepare for an expanded response without geographic limits to any new U.S. or Israeli attack, emphasizing Tehran would determine the war's end timing and conditions, while boosting domestic defense capabilities and munitions production.