Iran and United States remain far from a cease-fire agreement despite intensified mediation
A senior Iranian official said a deal to end hostilities is still distant, even as Qatar-backed talks continue and both sides exchange military actions in the Gulf region.
Iran and the United States are still far from reaching a settlement to end the conflict, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday, despite intensified diplomatic activity aimed at averting a return to active fighting after the U.S. midterm elections.
The United States carried out "defensive" strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island overnight, targeting surface-to-air missiles that the U.S. said were used against its assets. The Revolutionary Guards reported downing a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the eastern Strait of Hormuz the same night.
"Mediators are working hard to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington," the Iranian official said, referring to Qatari mediators who arrived in Tehran on Monday night to discuss a draft U.S.–Iran deal that has been under negotiation for eight days.
He added that Tehran's conditions must be met for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened and warned that nuclear talks could only begin afterward, rejecting what he called Washington's "excessive demands."
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the responsibility now lies with the United States after Tehran delivered a "strong and rational response" to Washington. He also indicated that Tehran would respond forcefully to any U.S. strikes in the region and beyond.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty on Monday about whether he would resume military strikes against Iran after the midterm elections, noting that he believed Tehran wanted to reach a deal quickly.
Regional diplomatic efforts continue alongside the bilateral talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said discussions with Saudi Arabia are ongoing as Tehran seeks new security arrangements that exclude foreign military involvement. Last week, senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian officials in Tehran, marking the first high-level contact between the three nations since August.
The meeting was described by Riyadh as an attempt to open channels to "prevent the return of military escalation," amid heightened fighting between Saudi forces and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has threatened shipping lanes such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and targeted Saudi oil facilities and airports.