Qatar confirmed today (Tuesday) that contacts between the United States and Iran are continuing, and that the sides have progressed from exchanging messages to drafting understandings, after the “language” of emerging agreements was settled and a draft was exchanged between them.
Alongside diplomatic efforts, tensions in the Gulf persist. For the second time since this morning, a report was received of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman, forcing its crew members to abandon vessel.
Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence sources told Fox News that Israel was not updated on the details of the planned American strike against Iran that was ultimately canceled. “The Americans kept their cards very close to their chest. We had no idea what the strike would entail.”
As recalled, yesterday U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the contacts, declaring that “this is Iran’s last chance to make a deal,” while clarifying that the diplomatic channel remains open and that “talks with Iran are in full swing and ongoing constantly.”
When asked whether he had set a deadline for Iran to reach an agreement, he replied: “We’ll see how it goes. We’re ready to strike whenever we want. Would I prefer to make a deal? I don’t want people to die. I asked the Saudi Crown Prince what would you prefer to do? Would you prefer we do this or not? And they said, we prefer a deal over a strike because you don’t know where those strikes will lead.”