Mediators continue US-Iran negotiations amid war rhetoric: what we know | US-Israeli war against Iran

Iranian officials discussed with Qatari mediators a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in the latest effort to find a diplomatic path out of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that has caused a serious global energy crisis.

But even amid signs of diplomatic progress, officials on both sides say they are ready for further military escalation.

President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested the United States might attack Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, said the latest negotiations are “going well” but added that the United States still has several Iranian targets to “take care of.”

Meanwhile, Araghchi also said Iran’s military was more prepared than ever for a new war, while the country’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei threatened Iran to use “new weapons” in response to any future attacks.

Here’s what we know about the latest diplomatic efforts and harsh speeches from both sides, and what it could mean for the future:

What is the status of the negotiations?

Araghchi said on Saturday that an Iranian delegation, including one of his aides, had traveled to Doha to meet Qatari mediators. Earlier, Qatari officials also visited Tehran for consultations.

The latest discussions in Doha focused on a plan that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy bottleneck, within two days and restart peace talks with the United States, provided Washington meets a series of demands from Tehran, Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

These demands include lifting recently imposed U.S. sanctions, reinstating oil waivers granted in June, reducing the U.S. military presence in the region, recognizing new maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz designated by Iran and Oman, and ending the conflict on all fronts, including Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Araghchi said.

Qatari and Pakistani mediators “are continuing their consultations regarding our conditions,” Iran’s top diplomat said.

Pakistan plays a mediator role between the United States and Iran, with its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visiting Tehran several times as part of diplomatic efforts to end the war. Doha and Islamabad played a key role in signing the June MoU which failed in August.

Iran’s Rezaei said the United States had “indicated its readiness” to accept its terms, although Washington has not confirmed this.

On the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Qatar-led talks were underway, but said he was not aware of a timetable for those negotiations.

“There are many talks. In fact, the talks have never stopped,” Rubio said. “If there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it.”

Why has Iran noticed a change in the “tone” of the United States?

The resumption of diplomatic activity comes after US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter earlier this week to Rezaei, apparently seeking to assess the prospects of resuming negotiations and avoiding further military escalation.

Rezaei confirmed Saturday that he had read the letter, the tone of which he said had “completely changed” from Trump’s previous correspondence.

Araghchi also said he studied Vance’s letter, which he described positively.

“The attempt by the American side to open the door to dialogue and broader understanding is a positive step,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

However, he warned, “if Washington’s goal in sending this letter is to sow discord, it would be one more mistake to add to the previous ones.” »

What has Iran said about the prospects for peace and war?

Iranian officials have said they are open to new peace talks if the United States meets its conditions, but also ready to act more aggressively in any new military confrontation.

“I know that our armed forces are better prepared for war than ever before, and we are ready to face any scenario,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

In the event of a new military threat from the United States or Israel, Iran’s response would be “immediate” and “without geographical limits”, according to a statement by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Khamenei ordered commanders to update the Iranian target list to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the US-Zionist enemy.”

Rezaei told Al Jazeera that Iran would use “new weapons” in its response to any future attacks. He also said the Iranian government was considering changes to its “nuclear doctrine,” which currently includes a ban on nuclear weapons.

Iran’s nuclear program is a major point of contention in the conflict with the United States, and Trump has repeatedly said Iran should never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

What’s the latest Trump news?

The US president has sent mixed signals on the status of peace talks. On Saturday, he said negotiations were “going well” but added that they were “not very reliable.”

He also said the U.S. military still had to “deal with” several Iranian sites, particularly a suspected underground nuclear complex known as Pickaxe Mountain.

Trump added that the United States could achieve its military objectives “very quickly” and that it was in no hurry.

Previously, he threatened renewed attacks that would “finish off” Iran, while the United States reportedly warned its Gulf allies to prepare for a short, high-intensity conflict after the midterm elections.

Rubio said Trump had not yet decided whether to carry out further strikes, but warned that the United States “can achieve its military objectives if we seek it.”

How could Israel play a role in the calculation?

Israel, which joined the United States in launching war against Iran in February, is preparing for a new round of potential conflicts just after the US midterm elections, according to a senior Israeli official cited by the Israeli website Ynet News.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had a “historic and unique opportunity… to eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all.” While Netanyahu’s coalition lost its parliamentary majority in recent parliamentary elections, the 77-year-old leader remains in office until a new government is formed.

Andreas Krieg, associate professor of security studies at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu’s threats complicate Iran’s calculus because Tehran fears that “even a nuclear deal with Washington would end the threat of another Israeli attack.”

Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, deputy for political affairs of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Iranian forces assume the United States or Israel could strike at any time.

What explains the parallel diplomatic efforts and war rhetoric?

Hamidreza Azizi, Crisis Group’s senior analyst on Iran, said Tehran was continuing its diplomacy while “trying to redefine” the military implications of another potential conflict.

“For now, diplomatic and military preparations are taking place simultaneously,” he wrote in an article on »

He added: “Whether Washington views these warnings as a credible deterrent or a further escalation of threats could significantly influence what happens next. »

Krieg said the Nov. 3 election is causing Iran to delay concessions in order to deny Trump a diplomatic victory. But this calculation could change later when there are fewer domestic political constraints on military action.

“So we could arrive at a situation in which Iran would be more willing to compromise precisely at the time when Washington would be more willing to strike,” Krieg said.