Envoys spent more than 12 hours meeting in Tehran to lay the groundwork for direct talks, which will continue in Doha. The diplomacy unfolds under intense rhetoric, with President Donald Trump demanding nuclear guarantees while Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of an unrestricted geographic response to new threats. Tensions have already spilled into the Persian Gulf, where December Brent crude futures rose 2.4% to $117.64 a barrel following multiple tanker incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
Key points
Active mediation aims to stave off renewed American-led military strikes after the U.S. m…: Active mediation aims to stave off renewed American-led military strikes after the U.S. midterm elections conclude.
Conflict risks remain severe following the quick collapse of the preliminary cease-fire t…: Conflict risks remain severe following the quick collapse of the preliminary cease-fire that was signed on June 17.
Escalating regional naval incidents and threats of retaliation continue to cause direct v…: Escalating regional naval incidents and threats of retaliation continue to cause direct volatility in international oil markets.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Qatari mediators have held talks with Iranian officials in an attempt to restart direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an official source familiar with the discussions told CNBC on Saturday.
Iran promised a "geographically unrestricted response" to any new attacks by the U.S.
Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday to reach a deal to avoid a possible resumption of American-led attacks on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Axios first reported the talks, which it said are set to continue in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday.
A preliminary agreement signed on June 17 between the U.S. and Iran to halt the fighting — which began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets — broke down weeks later.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that the Iran war will end "whenever I want it to." Trump said it "would be very quick, but we have to have an end properly," with a "total statement" that Iran would never…
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