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    Qatar says its mediation efforts between US and Iran continue to prevent escalation

    Synopsis

    Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani emphasised ongoing mediation efforts between the US and Iran. He stated that Washington remains interested in finding a resolution after the midterm elections. Meanwhile, there are concerns about potential US strikes on Iranian targets if tensions escalate. Iran has proposed a seven-day plan to ease the blockade and improve relations, but it was rejected by Trump.

    FILE PHOTO: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani makes a statement at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, October 16, 2026.Reuters
    Significant progress had been made and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed confidence that a settlement could be reached.
    Qatar's Prime Minister said the country's mediation efforts between the US and Iran were continuing to prevent the situation in the region from spiraling out of control, Al Jazeera TV reported on Saturday.

    The US administration remained willing to find a solution even after the midterm elections, signalling that Washington's interest in reaching an agreement had not changed, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said.

    Significant progress had been made and Al-Thani expressed confidence that a settlement could be reached.


    Read more: 'Both sides working towards a deal': Qatar says PM remarks on US-Iran talks "distorted" online

    "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement," he said.

    Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Saturday that initial reports indicated two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, adding there was no official information on possible damage.

    The United States has not yet announced any attack on targets inside Iran.

    Read more: Trump holds call with mediator Qatar about Iran de-escalation

    Countries in the region had been anticipating that US President Donald Trump, who has held off on strikes on Iran during the weeks leading up to Tuesday's midterm elections, could restart attacks once the voting is over. Iran has repeatedly said it would respond to new attacks by striking at US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries.

    Iran has been proposing its own seven-day plan since September, so far rejected by Trump. It calls for Washington to lift a blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze assets and approve an Iranian-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz, after which the contested waterway would be reopened.

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