US President Donald Trump is due to meet the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Washington on 9 November 2026 to discuss a possible end to the war with Iran. Despite the intensification of diplomatic talks, US officials and representatives of the Gulf states do not expect a peace agreement to be concluded any time soon.
- On 9 November, Trump plans to hold talks with the Prime Minister of Qatar on bringing the war with Iran to an end.
- Washington has rejected the ceasefire terms proposed by Tehran.
- Iran is proposing to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for concessions from the US.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that he does not expect a rapid diplomatic breakthrough.
- Amid the negotiations, strikes and attacks on seagoing vessels are continuing in the region.
Trump is to meet with a mediator between the US and Iran
Prime Minister of Qatar Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also heads the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will arrive in Washington for talks following his visit to Tehran last week.
As well as the meeting with Donald Trump, the Qatari Prime Minister plans to hold talks with the US Vice-President JD Vance.
Qatar remains one of the main intermediaries between Washington and Tehran. Doha is conveying proposals from both sides and attempting to find a compromise on a ceasefire and the future Iran’s nuclear programme.
According to Axios, Qatari mediators are seeking to persuade the US president to give diplomacy more time. At the same time, it is unclear how long Washington is prepared to continue negotiations without a concrete outcome.
What conditions has Iran set for ending the war?
Iran has proposed a plan to end the conflict, which involves mutual concessions.
Tehran is demanding that the US lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, lift some of the sanctions and halt the bombing. In return, the Iranian side is proposing to resume shipping through Strait of Hormuz.
Once these conditions have been met, the parties could move on to negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme and other sanctions-related restrictions.
The Iranian authorities claim that the initial phase of the agreement can be implemented within two days. However, the US administration does not agree with this approach.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio On 8 November, he described Iran’s demands as unacceptable and unrealistic. He also stressed that he currently sees no signs of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.
Spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmail Baghai, on the contrary, described Tehran’s proposal as the most sensible option among those under consideration.
The US and Iran are continuing hostilities despite the talks
The war between the US, Israel and Iran began on 28 February 2026 and has now been going on for more than eight months.
According to reports in the Iranian state media, US forces carried out strikes on Qeshm Island on the night of 9 November. Local authorities stated that critical infrastructure had not been damaged. Washington has not commented on these reports.
At the same time, attacks on oil tankers are continuing in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. According to international maritime organisations, the frequency of such incidents rose significantly in October.
The conflict has also spread to neighbouring countries. On 8 November, the Yemeni Houthis claimed to have carried out an attack on the headquarters of the Saudi oil company Aramco in Riyadh. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy confirmed that the building had been damaged, but did not name those responsible for the attack.
Is a swift end to the war possible?
Peace talks gained momentum following the US mid-term congressional elections, in which the Republican Party suffered losses. Party representatives, in particular JD Vance, linked the election results to the war against Iran.
A senior official from the United Arab Emirates Anvar Gargash He also stated that reaching a comprehensive political agreement between Washington and Tehran remains a difficult task.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he had urged Trump to prevent a further escalation of the conflict and to continue diplomatic efforts.
As of 9 November, a meeting between Trump and the Prime Minister of Qatar is scheduled, although no agreement has been reported on ending the war. The main obstacles remain disagreements over sanctions, the naval blockade, the nuclear programme and the terms for a ceasefire.
