Qatar is continuing its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, exchanging messages and holding meetings to bridge differences as tensions persist into an eighth month. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari confirmed the ongoing contacts, including discussions held on the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly in New York, with a focus on building common ground.

Despite talks, the military standoff continues. Expert Su Xiaohui noted diplomatic and military pressure are likely to persist in parallel. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed US warships have moved at least 500 km from the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the Persian Gulf devoid of US naval presence.

Tensions have spilled over regionally. In Yemen, Iranian-aligned Houthi fighters reported 35 Saudi airstrikes, while Saudi-backed government forces warned civilians away from Houthi sites. The conflict has fueled concerns over oil supply disruptions, though prices dipped on signs of recovering Middle East exports.

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and predicted the war would end soon, stating Iran was “doing very poorly.”