Qatari Mediators Return to Tehran as Trump Says Iran War Will End 'Soon'

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for another round of talks with Iranian officials, as President Donald Trump said the U.S. war against Iran will end "soon." The visit came five days after Qatari mediators presented a peace proposal that Iranian officials called "unacceptable." The delegation was reportedly led by a senior adviser to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani. An official briefed on the talks told Reuters the Qataris are still trying to reach a U.S.-Iran deal. Trump is also weighing military strikes on Iran after the November midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Iran, and Iran may respond soon. Also on Friday, Iran's IRGC said it stopped two tankers from using "unauthorized routes" in the Strait of Hormuz, and Brent crude edged toward $117 a barrel. AAA put average U.S. gasoline at $4.20 per gallon.

Breitbart, on the right, leads with the Qatari visit and Iran's rejection of the earlier proposal. It reports Iran refused nuclear concessions and won't discuss uranium enrichment until the U.S. ends its port blockade and lifts oil sanctions. It cites a Reuters source, an Iranian official speaking to The National, and a Washington Post report of Vance's outreach to Mohsen Rezaei, whom it describes as a former IRGC head. Its headline uses "allegedly," casting doubt on Iran's stated aims. CBS News, on the left, leads with Trump's claim that the war will end "soon" and ties Qatar's push to the days before the midterms, relying on correspondent Charlie D'Agata. Both sides agree Qatar is mediating and that talks are active. They differ in emphasis: Breitbart focuses on Iranian demands and Vance's outreach, while CBS centers on Trump's statement and election timing. The Hill and The American Conservative add that strikes may follow the midterms, plus Yemen fighting and fuel prices.