US and Iran keep diplomatic channels open as both prepare for possible major conflict

Communication between Washington and Tehran remains active, with Qatar, Pakistan and China acting as intermediaries to pass messages despite deep disagreements over guarantees. Iran has indicated it is preparing for a “major round of fighting,” while US officials reportedly consider fresh strikes before the November 3 midterm elections and have positioned a third aircraft carrier in the region. Tehran’s interior minister’s recent trip to Doha, officially about missing pilots, also serves a wider diplomatic purpose.

Both parties have floated proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days, but the United States has rejected Iran’s latest offer and insists on irreversible assurances that Tehran demands. Iranian military officials warn of possible pre-emptive attacks, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have stressed Iran must cut uranium enrichment to meet American conditions. The diplomatic process continues, though observers doubt it will yield a substantive breakthrough.