Iran has offered to stop attacking vessels belonging to Gulf states if the United States lifts its blockade and releases about $8 billion in frozen Iranian funds held in Qatar, Israel Hayom reported. The reported proposal makes no mention of Iran's earlier demand to control the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed that it has dropped the condition.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was expected to present the offer to President Donald Trump on Monday, according to the Israeli newspaper. A person familiar with the discussions told NewsNation that the two leaders planned to review demands from both Washington and Tehran at an Oval Office meeting.
Iran has said it could return to negotiations within two days, down from seven under an earlier proposal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Washington would first have to lift its sanctions and naval blockade and agree to end the war on all fronts. The shorter timetable applies to restarting talks, with differences over Iran's nuclear program and the terms for ending the war still unresolved.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated the two-day offer in a post on X on Sunday, invoking the U.S. midterm results as he urged the White House to accept Tehran's conditions. He warned that Iran would escalate if Washington chose to resume fighting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that Iran's demands were unacceptable. "I wouldn't say we're at the verge of a breakthrough," he said.
Trump told CNN that renewed U.S. attacks were "highly unlikely" for now, while leaving the decision contingent on progress in nuclear talks. "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," he said. He also said the U.S. had three aircraft carriers in the region and had identified 38 bridges it could strike if hostilities resumed.
Vice President JD Vance has been in nearly daily contact with the Qatari prime minister, the person familiar with the discussions told NewsNation. Vance and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are seeking an agreement along the lines of a memorandum Washington and Tehran signed in May that quickly unraveled, Israel Hayom reported.
The talks come as the administration faces growing pressure at home to end the war. Vance has blamed the conflict for Republicans' midterm losses, while Democratic leaders have urged Trump to act before their party takes control of Congress in January.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN the administration should end the war without waiting for the new Congress to convene on Jan. 3. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said some Republicans already supported ending the conflict and pointed to Congress's authority over federal spending as a way to constrain the administration's military campaign.
