Symbolic imageQatar mediates as US and Iran stay far apart on conditions for talks
Qatar's prime minister was due to meet President Trump in Washington on Monday. Iran and the US remain far apart.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called some Iranian conditions "outrageous and ridiculous" and said he had "no progress to report". Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei defended Tehran's offer to restart talks within two days, down from seven, as the most reasonable on the table. It requires Washington first to halt hostilities, lift the blockade and waive sanctions. Trump said in a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday that he does not intend to renew escalation.
Qatari proposal
According to the Guardian, cited by The American Conservative, Qatar proposes UN inspections of Iranian nuclear sites in exchange for lifting the US naval blockade and unfreezing some assets. Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın said Vance and Iran's Mohsen Rezaei will travel to Qatar next week.
Tanker reports from Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards and navy report several tankers hit by mines or burning since Wednesday, 4 November; none of this is independently verified. Reuters reports Iran saying no unauthorised vessel transited overnight after navigation aids were destroyed.
US task force on land routes
US Central Command announced Task Force Iron Gate on Saturday to stop Iranian overland trade. Baghaei dismissed it as a diversion after Republican midterm losses and said US pressure on Iraq to close its borders should not affect ties with Baghdad.