The United States and Iran are still far from reaching an agreement that would end the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
While there are concerns that the conflicts will intensify again after the midterm elections in the USA, Qatar has accelerated its diplomatic initiatives in order to resolve the differences between Washington and Tehran.
The Iranian official, who did not want to be named, said, "Mediators are making intense efforts to reduce the differences of opinion between Tehran and Washington." he said.
The Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Monday night to discuss a version of the draft US-Iran agreement that has been negotiated for the past eight days.
NEW ATTACK FROM THE USA ON IRAN
While diplomatic contacts were continuing, it was reported that the USA carried out air strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island at night.
A US official said that the attacks targeted surface-to-air missile systems used against American elements and were carried out for "defensive purposes".
Another US official stated that the attacks were limited in scope and did not mean the resumption of large-scale military operations.
US President Donald Trump also raised the possibility of a new military intervention against Iran in his statement to Fox News on Tuesday.
Trump said, "I don't want to kill a lot of people. But if we have to, we will." he said.
IRAN: HORMIS WILL NOT BE OPENED UNTIL OUR CONDITIONS ARE MET
The Iranian official emphasized that Tehran's conditions must be met for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
These demands include lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, ending the US naval blockade, and releasing frozen Iranian assets.
Secretary General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, also stated that they "did not find Washington's response to Tehran's demands convincing".
Rezai said in his post on his X account, "Washington must clearly and completely address all seven conditions of Iran and fulfill them. Only in this case will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened."
QATAR: WE CANNOT LOSE OUR HOPE
Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Majid al-Ansari announced that the USA and Iran are evaluating the proposals offered by the mediators.
Stating that the Qatari delegation that went to Tehran returned to Doha but the talks continue, Ansari said that intense diplomatic efforts are being made to prevent a new military escalation in the region.
Ansari said, "If there was not the slightest glimmer of hope, there would be no negotiations. As mediators, we cannot lose hope." he said.
An official with knowledge of the talks said that responses from Washington and Tehran are expected within 36 hours.
However, speaking to Reuters later, a senior Iranian official said that there was no set deadline for the exchange of messages and evaluation of responses carried out through mediators.
SHARP RETALIATION WARNING FROM TEHRAN TO THE USA
The Iranian official stated that they would not accept Washington's "excessive demands" and that nuclear negotiations could only begin after Iran's conditions are met.
He said that if the US launches new attacks, Iran will respond harshly both in the region and outside the region.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced that they shot down a US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle and two Lucas type unmanned aerial vehicles near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqir Qalibaf also stated that Tehran gave a "strong and reasonable response" and said that the next step depends on Washington.
Kalibaf said, "The enemy is trying to force the Iranian people to surrender with threats and military actions. However, they are making a big mistake. Iran will not surrender." he said.
He emphasized that the response to a possible miscalculation by the United States would be unpredictable and would not be limited by geographical borders.
US BASES IN EUROPE MAY ALSO BE TARGETED
Iranian Chief of General Staff Ali Abdullahi announced that the army has updated its target lists, which include elements belonging to the USA and Israel, and that they will immediately respond to any threat.
After Iran's religious leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week instructed the armed forces to respond to hostile threats "regardless of geographical borders", Iranian officials began to state more frequently that they could target military facilities outside the region.
The conservative Keyhan newspaper published in Iran wrote that US military facilities in England, Italy, Greece, Romania, Albania and Cyprus could be targeted if the war restarts.
NEW CONTACTS BETWEEN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA
In addition to the indirect talks between the USA and Iran, regional countries continue their diplomatic initiatives to prevent the conflicts from re-escalating.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi announced that negotiations with Saudi Arabia are continuing to establish new regional security arrangements that exclude foreign military intervention.
Last week, senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan met with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran for the first time since August.
On the other hand, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have increased their attacks against Saudi Arabia, indicating that the regional dimension of the conflict is expanding.
OIL PRICES HAVE INCREASED AGAIN
Oil prices, which fell more than 7 percent on Monday with the expectation of progress in diplomatic talks, rose approximately 1.3 percent on Tuesday.
The volatility in the oil markets was influenced by the uncertainty regarding the outcome of the negotiations between the USA and Iran and concerns that military conflicts in the region may intensify again.
