Qatar Launches Last-Minute Mediation to Prevent Resumption of War Between U.S. and Iran

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom: Advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump and his regional allies are racing against time to influence his decision on whether to end the war with Iran or resume military operations, amid Gulf diplomatic efforts led by Qatar to avoid a new escalation in the region. The U.S. newspaper “The Wall Street Journal” reported in a story published Friday that Trump’s advisers are divided over the available options, between a team pushing for the resumption of major military operations and another preferring the continuation of economic pressure and sanctions, while granting diplomatic efforts an opportunity to reach an agreement that ends the war and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The newspaper quoted Qatari officials as saying that Doha has launched a last-minute diplomatic push to avoid a new U.S. military operation and work on bridging views between Washington and Tehran, paving the way for opening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian trade. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during an event in the British city of Oxford that mediators are currently working to avoid a new wave of escalation in the region. In the same context, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, amid signs that Washington and Tehran are looking for an exit from the crisis, according to Gulf officials. The newspaper indicated that Iranian officials might return to Doha in the coming days to discuss a potential agreement, while Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are attempting to arrange a call with Trump or hold a high-level meeting in Washington to convince him to reach a settlement and avoid the resumption of war. According to informed sources, the proposed offer includes reducing the duration of preliminary talks from 60 days, per the memorandum of understanding signed last June, to just two days, allowing for a swift transition to negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In Washington, official positions vary regarding the next step; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper are pushing toward resuming major military operations, while Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff support continuing the diplomatic track. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are calling for tightening sanctions and continuing the blockade imposed on Iranian trade, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to press toward resuming strikes, contrasted by growing skepticism among Washington’s Gulf allies regarding the utility of military escalation. The report stated that the Pentagon continues to prepare for new military options, including targeting Iran’s energy facilities, nuclear program, and missile and drone arsenals, noting that Washington might need additional days for reinforcements and military equipment to arrive in the region before creating the conditions to resume large-scale operations. In this context, the U.S. aircraft carrier group “USS Theodore Roosevelt” is heading from the Pacific Ocean to the region, while an additional U.S. Marine unit is expected to arrive later this month, alongside other military and defensive reinforcements. Trump had indicated on Thursday that his administration is studying its options, saying he prefers to avoid destroying what remains of Iran, but did not rule out resorting to that if necessary. These moves come amidst internal political pressure on the U.S. administration following the congressional midterm elections, which showed, according to the report, public rejection of the war, as well as divisions within Trump’s team regarding its political, economic, and strategic costs. U.S. officials warned that resuming attacks could prompt Iran to expand the scope of its retaliatory response, while stepping back from the war might grant Tehran an opportunity to demand larger concessions during negotiations or reinforce its influence in the Strait of Hormuz. The newspaper quoted experts stating that the options available to Trump are not without risk, given the continuation of sanctions and the blockade, alongside the rising economic cost of the conflict, against the uncertainty of whether additional military strikes would force Tehran to make the concessions demanded by Washington. The post Qatar Launches Last-Minute Mediation to Prevent Resumption of War Between U.S. and Iran appeared first on Yemen Monitor.