Qatar presents Iran with seven-day peace plan

The diplomatic initiative comes amid concerns over renewed Israeli strikes, US military preparations and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Doha: Qatar has presented Iran with a new draft agreement to end the war with the United States and Israel, outlining a seven-day timeline for confidence-building measures amid the threat of fresh attacks, Reuters reported.

An official briefed on the negotiations on Wednesday, October 28, said that Qatari mediators delivered the proposal to Tehran on Sunday, October 25. Iran is expected to respond by the end of the week.

Under the proposed framework, Tehran and Washington would take daily steps to address each other’s concerns. The process could begin early next week, with several countries acting as guarantors of the agreement, the official said.

However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Qatar had presented ideas Tehran considered unacceptable rather than a new peace proposal. The official also said Iran would not show flexibility on the nuclear issue, a key point of contention in negotiations.

Qatar and Pakistan have led mediation efforts since the conflict began with US and Israeli military action against Iran on February 28. The war has disrupted global shipping and oil supplies, with repercussions across the Middle East.

Trump leaves door open to further military action

The diplomatic initiative comes as US President Donald Trump has declined to rule out fresh strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, October 28, Trump said he could not confirm whether he would order another attack.

“But anything is possible,” he said.

Trump claimed Iran wanted an agreement but suggested Tehran might be waiting until after the elections. He warned that delaying a deal would not help the country.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington had warned several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a possible short but intense military campaign against Iran after the elections.

According to the newspaper, the US was reinforcing regional defences, moving troops away from vulnerable bases and replenishing munitions. An additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit were expected to join US forces in the Middle East next month.

Israel had also identified potential targets for further attacks, the report said. The White House declined to comment on sensitive military plans but said Trump was keeping all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Netanyahu could resume attacks

The prospect of renewed Israeli strikes has added to uncertainty surrounding the negotiations. The official briefed on the talks said there had been concerns before Sunday’s meeting in Tehran that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could order fresh attacks on Iran during the week.

Netanyahu is seeking another term in a general election, the official said.

War began in February as mediation efforts continued

The war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. Qatar and Pakistan have since led diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting, with negotiations producing an interim ceasefire agreement in June. However, the arrangement quickly unravelled, and efforts to secure a lasting settlement have continued.

The conflict has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman that handled around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war. Disruptions to traffic through the strait have raised concerns over energy supplies and global oil prices.