Doha talks advance efforts to end U.S.-Iran war as Tehran welcomes outreach

Qatar-mediated talks to end the U.S.-Iran war make progress as Iranian negotiators arrive in Doha and Tehran welcomes Washington’s diplomatic outreach.Qatar-mediated negotiations to end the U.S.-Iran war are making progress, with Iranian negotiators arriving in Doha for further discussions following more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday.The Qatari delegation has remained in frequent contact with U.S. negotiators throughout the discussions, as diplomatic efforts gather pace to secure an agreement and prevent a renewed military confrontation.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Washington’s latest attempt to open dialogue was a “positive step”, signalling a potential opening in efforts to end the eight-month conflict.Araghchi confirmed that Iran had reviewed a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and that an Iranian delegation had travelled to Doha to continue consultations with Qatari mediators.“The American side’s attempt to open the door to dialogue and understanding more broadly is a positive step,” he said.Although Tehran has no immediate plans to meet U.S. officials directly, Araghchi said mediators were continuing discussions over Iran’s conditions for an agreement.“We see no need to meet with the Americans at this stage. Our conditions are clear, and mediators are continuing their consultations regarding them,” he added.The foreign minister also reported progress on the proposed timetable for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major issue in negotiations.According to Araghchi, Qatar initially proposed shortening the implementation period of Iran’s plan to five days, before further discussions produced a proposal reducing it to just two days.Qatari and Pakistani mediators are also discussing Tehran’s demands, including the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian funds and a reduction in U.S. military forces in the region.Iran is additionally seeking recognition of shipping routes through the strait discussed with Oman.Hopes of a diplomatic breakthroughU.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack also expressed optimism about the prospects for an agreement, telling CNN that significant diplomatic progress could be possible within two weeks.“We’re close. I think we’re very close to a place where we can finally say: Let’s just have a time out,” Barrack said.He acknowledged that trust remained a major obstacle, particularly over which side would take the first steps towards implementing an agreement.Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is leading negotiations with Washington, said progress depended on the U.S. accepting Tehran’s seven conditions.The renewed diplomatic activity comes ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, which have heightened uncertainty over Washington’s next move.A CNN report on Saturday described growing anxiety across Gulf states, where residents fear that fighting could resume after the vote.President Donald Trump wrote on social media earlier this month that the U.S. would not attack Iran before the 3 November elections, without ruling out military action afterwards.Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN that Washington’s signals had contributed to uncertainty across the region.“But it’s becoming difficult to distinguish pressure tactics from genuine signals,” he said.The conflict began in February, when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Iranian missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.CNN reported that families of U.S. diplomats had quietly begun leaving the region, while residents in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates expressed concerns about possible travel and business disruptions.Despite the diplomatic progress, Araghchi said Iran remained prepared for the possibility of renewed attacks.“We are prepared for all scenarios,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that Tehran had upgraded its weapons and addressed military vulnerabilities.