Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran aimed at restarting direct U.S.-Iran negotiations, source says

Qatari mediators have held talks with Iranian officials in an attempt to restart direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an official source familiar with the discussions told CNBC on Saturday.

Iran promised a "geographically unrestricted response" to any new attacks by the U.S.

Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday to reach a deal to avoid a possible resumption of American-led attacks on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Axios first reported the talks, which it said are set to continue in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there are no plans to meet U.S. officials, adding that an Iranian delegation has headed to Qatar for talks with mediators, Qatari media outlet Al Jazeera reported.

"What is being circulated in this regard is merely media speculation," Al Jazeera quoted Araghchi as saying.

A preliminary agreement signed on June 17 between the U.S. and Iran to halt the fighting — which began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets — broke down weeks later.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that the Iran war will end "whenever I want it to." Trump said it "would be very quick, but we have to have an end properly," with a "total statement" that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon.

The last confirmed U.S. strikes on Iran occurred on Sept. 1. Trump previously left open the possibility that attacks on Iran would resume after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which are set for Tuesday. Tehran has said it is preparing a military response to any U.S. strikes.