The key facts

  • After a meeting with the head of Qatar's Foreign Ministry, Trump said the US is ready to resume strikes on Iran at any moment
  • Washington is not yet rushing into a new operation and is maintaining the maritime blockade of Iranian ports
  • Qatar and Saudi Arabia are seeking a peaceful settlement; Qatar continues to mediate between the US and Tehran

Readiness to strike and reliance on mediation

The United States maintains its readiness to strike Iran again, even though Qatar and Saudi Arabia are advocating for a diplomatic settlement. US President Donald Trump said this following a meeting with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Reuters reports. 'We are ready [to strike Iran] at any moment we want,' Life.ru quotes him as saying, citing the agency.

Blockade instead of a new operation

At the same time, Trump did not say that a large-scale military operation would resume soon: according to him, Washington is in no hurry to make such a decision and for now intends to maintain the maritime blockade of Iranian ports. The American leader also noted that Doha and Riyadh would prefer to end the conflict peacefully. Qatar remains one of the main mediators between the US and Iran: in early November, representatives of the emirate visited Tehran, where they discussed possible agreements with the Iranian leadership, and after the delegation returned, the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed that consultations aimed at preventing a new escalation would continue.

Disagreements over key terms

The parties still differ on the key terms of an agreement. Iran is seeking the lifting of restrictive measures, the unfreezing of assets, and an end to the American blockade; Washington insists on discussing Tehran's nuclear program and guarantees of safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Life.ru reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the lack of a breakthrough in the negotiations: despite ongoing contacts, the main disagreements have not been overcome, although the American administration is open to an agreement mediated by Qatar. Thus, military readiness and the diplomatic track exist in parallel: Trump's statement makes clear that strikes remain an option, but the current instrument of pressure remains the port blockade, and the outcome depends on whether Qatari mediation can bring the parties' positions on sanctions and the nuclear program closer together.

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