Negotiators ‘braced for worst’ over US-Iran talks to reopen strait of Hormuz
Officials from the Gulf states are braced for the worst as they wait for Washington’s response to an Iranian proposal that could reopen the strait of Hormuz before the US midterm elections on Tuesday, the Guardian reports. Indirect talks in Doha ran into a third day on Sunday, with Qatar trying to negotiate the release of more than $6bn in Iranian assets, which could lead to the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and the restart of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. UAE envoy Anwar Gargash said another round of escalation was not in the interests of Iran or its neighbours, adding that they were braced for the worst. Qatar's mediation continued despite unidentified missiles striking a Pakistan-bound Qatari LNG tanker near the strait on Friday. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said he hoped the US would choose diplomacy over other paths, noting that Iran was ready for both defence and diplomacy. Donald Trump said on Saturday the US had knocked out much of Iran’s military but still had to take care of a couple of targets. US secretary of state Marco Rubio stated the US was open to a diplomatic solution, while Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei disclosed he received a letter from US vice-president JD Vance seeking to revive talks.