Qatar Prime Minister says US-Iran mediation making progress, deal still possible

Qatar's prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told Al Jazeera that Doha's mediation between the United States and Iran is continuing and that significant progress has been made toward a settlement. He said Washington remains willing to reach an agreement even after the recent U.S. midterm elections and added, "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement."

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that initial information suggested two missiles hit Qeshh Island, though no official details on damage were available. The United States has not confirmed any strike inside Iran.

Regional observers noted that the United States, under President Donald Trump, had paused direct strikes on Iran ahead of the midterms and that the situation could change after the elections. Iran has warned it would respond to any new attacks by targeting U.S. and Israeli interests in neighboring states. Since September, Iran has offered a seven-day plan that would require the United States to lift a blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze assets and approve an Iranian-backed shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal that President Trump has so far rejected.