US and Iran hold third day of indirect talks in Qatar

Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran entered a third day in Doha on Sunday, according to the Guardian. Qatari officials are attempting to mediate an agreement to release more than 6 billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Gulf state officials stated that they are prepared for the worst while waiting for a response from Washington to an Iranian proposal. [1][2]

The proposed deal could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before the United States midterm elections on Tuesday, the Guardian reported. The agreement could also allow the restart of formal negotiations regarding the nuclear program of Iran. Earlier reporting by BW Businessworld and Moneycontrol indicated that draft proposals put uranium transfers, sanctions relief, and the reopening of the waterway on the negotiating table. [1][3][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Qatari mediators have been working to end the military conflict while maritime incidents continued in the region. Iranian forces claimed that multiple oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, disputing claims by the United States that shipping lanes were clear. [7][8]

The conflict began on 28 February 2026 when the United States and Israel conducted joint airstrikes against Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian forces responded with strikes against Israel, United States military bases, and neighboring Arab nations, while closing the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. [6]