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

President Donald Trump said Friday that the war with Iran is "going to get wrapped up soon," while Qatari mediators returned to Tehran to try to revive peace talks. Trump, speaking to Kansas City radio station KCMO ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, did not say how the war would end, but said the U.S. needs a guarantee that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. Qatar presented a draft proposal for a diplomatic path last weekend, and progress was reportedly being made. Reports said Iran may soon answer a letter sent this week by Vice President Vance. An official said the talks are coordinated with Washington, and the U.S. reportedly believes Iranian security council chief Mohsen Rezaei is best placed to head off hostilities. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, said Iran's navy is "at the bottom of the sea," that southern shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz are clear of mines, and that the U.S. had helped Gulf partners export over 1.5 billion barrels of crude since summer while a blockade stopped Iranian exports. Iran's IRGC said Friday it stopped two tankers from using "unauthorized routes" in the strait. Brent crude neared $117 a barrel, and AAA put U.S. regular gasoline at $4.20 a gallon.

CBS News, representing the left, leads with Trump's prediction that the war will end soon and gives most space to Cooper's military account: Iran's navy destroyed, mine-cleared routes, no IRGC presence, and billions of barrels exported. It frames the story around administration statements and the midterm timing, with Qatar's push for a deal in the headline. The Times of Israel's headline and excerpt focus on Qatari mediation, coordination with Washington, and Rezaei. The American Conservative, in the alternative group, offers a distinct angle: fears the U.S. may renew the war after the midterms, the IRGC tanker stops that contrast with CENTCOM's control claims, Yemen fighting, and fuel prices. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had.