Morning update

30 September 2026 08:11 BST Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Qatari mediators in Doha late on Tuesday and received US feedback on a proposed seven-day trust-building plan. The plan aims to build trust and return to an enhanced version of a US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, an official told Reuters. The same official indicated that Araghchi will discuss Washington's response with Tehran's leadership on Wednesday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of attempting to create and exacerbate "internal divisions" in the country, state media reported. "After failing to force the Iranian people to surrender through military war, enemies have focused their entire plan on creating and intensifying internal divisions," Pezeshkian said in a meeting with Iranian mayors from across the country. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Benjamin Netanyahu of stoking security fears, claiming that enemies might attack ahead of the 27 October elections. Lapid reportedly requested an urgent security briefing after Netanyahu on Tuesday said that there were "indications" that Israel’s enemies could try to attack the country before elections began. "Netanyahu ignored every warning before October 7 and now, 28 days before the election, he’s suddenly busy fearmongering," Lapid said. Iran's foreign ministry warned on Tuesday that Israel's presence in the region was creating a "dangerous situation", after Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the UAE was confirmed. The ministry slammed the visit, saying it came at a "sensitive time" amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran, Lebanon and Palestine. Qatar's prime minister accused his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, of being a "war criminal", and stressed that Doha would continue its mediation efforts despite escalating tensions in the region. "Hospitals have been targeted, schools have been targeted. Whatever the justifications and the arguments, nothing is justifying this," he said during an interview with Piers Morgan. A senior Saudi official on Wednesday has denied reports of a meeting taking place between representatives from Saudi Arabia and Israeli officials. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi and met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Israeli media reports, representatives from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Qatar and Morocco were also present at the meeting.