World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
Iran and U.S. remain far from deal as Qatar steps up mediation
Iran and the United States are still far from a deal to end their war, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday.
The conflict began in February with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and has since spread around the region.
Qatar is working to narrow differences, with mediators holding talks in Tehran over a draft agreement.
Iran says the United States must meet its conditions, including lifting oil sanctions, ending its naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until its conditions are met, and that nuclear talks can start only afterward.
The United States carried out overnight strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island, while Iranian officials warned of a forceful response to further U.S. attacks.
Both sides are reviewing proposals, but the talks continue without a clear timeline for an agreement.
Iran and the United States remain far from a deal to end their war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.
Qatar has stepped up mediation, with mediators working to narrow differences between Tehran and Washington and prevent renewed escalation.
The United States carried out overnight “defensive” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island, targeting surface-to-air missiles used against U.S. assets.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless its conditions are met, including waiving oil sanctions, ending the U.S. naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds.
U.S. President Donald Trump renewed threats of possible military action, while also expressing doubt earlier in the week about resuming strikes.
- Who
- Iran and the United States, with Qatar mediating.
- What
- The countries remain far from a deal to end the war, as Qatar works to bridge differences.
- When
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026. U.S. strikes on Qeshm island took place overnight.
- Where
- Talks involved Tehran and Washington; the strikes targeted Iran’s Qeshm island. The Strait of Hormuz is central to Iran’s conditions.
- Why
- Qatar is seeking to prevent renewed escalation. Iran says its conditions must be met for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
Iran
United States
Deal terms
Iran
Iran says its conditions, including waiving oil sanctions, ending the U.S. naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds, must be met.
United States
The United States has put forward demands that Iran calls excessive; the articles do not specify those demands.
Military action
Iran
Iran says it will respond forcefully to U.S. strikes and will not accept threats or military action.
United States
The United States carried out what an official described as defensive strikes on Qeshm island and Trump warned that further military action could be possible.
The United States and Israel launched the war on Iran.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian officials in Tehran.
Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran to discuss a version of a draft U.S.-Iran deal.
The United States carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island.
A senior Iranian official said Iran and the United States remained far from a deal.
- Qeshm island
- U.S. strikes targeted surface-to-air missiles used against U.S. assets.
- Qatar mediation
- Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran on Monday night.
- Iranian conditions
- Waiving oil sanctions, ending the U.S. naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds.
- Strait of Hormuz
- Iran says it will reopen only if its conditions are met.
- Proposed deal
- A version of the draft U.S.-Iran deal had been under negotiation for eight days.
3 sources
What people are saying
Mediators are working hard to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington
Tehran's conditions must be met if the US wants Hormuz reopened
I’m not looking to ... kill lots of people. If we have to, we’ll have to.
If there were no glimmer of hope, there would be no negotiations ... and as a mediator, we cannot lose hope