Qatar is maintaining active mediation between the United States and Iran to prevent regional escalation from spiraling out of control, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani stated as reported by Al Jazeera on Saturday.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed confidence that a settlement remains achievable, noting that Washington retains a strong interest in reaching a deal even following the US midterm elections. "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement we hope to reach a good agreement" he remarked also highlighting significant progress in negotiations.
The diplomatic drive comes amid rising volatility. Iranian media reported unconfirmed strikes by two missiles on Qeshm Island though US authorities have not announced any strikes inside Iran. Regional observers fear potential renewed military action following the US midterms while Tehran has warned it will retaliate against US and Israeli targets across the region if attacked.
Concurrently, Iran has reiterated that its proposed seven-point plan remains the sole pathway to reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The plan requires Washington to unfreeze Iranian assets, lift the blockade on Iranian ports and approve an Iranian-backed transit route through the waterway.
Iranian Army Spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned that US aggression would fail to reopen the waterway. Citing directives from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Akraminia stated that Iran’s armed forces maintain high combat readiness to execute immediate and effective responses without geographical restrictions targeting US assets globally if provoked.
Compounding maritime risks as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy reported on Friday that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while attempting to navigate unauthorized routes through the closed Strait of Hormuz.
According to the IRGC, the vessels had disabled their identification systems and were attempting passage with support from US forces. The IRGC reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly closed until Tehran's seven conditions are formally accepted.
