U.S. President Donald Trump told CNN on Nov. 8 that wider strikes on Iran would be unlikely if talks advanced and Tehran signed a strong agreement, amid concerns over Gulf shipping and energy supplies.
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. He left open the possibility of further military action.
The Associated Press reported that U.S. forces struck Iranian targets at least twice in the week before the interview. Air defenses were among the targets. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Nov. 8 that the negotiations were not close to a breakthrough.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nov. 3 that mediators were passing proposals between Washington and Tehran, but had no specific breakthrough to announce. The ministry said attacks on vessels and further military escalation threatened the region and affected negotiations, and it opposed threats to Gulf navigation.
Trump and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, discussed the diplomatic effort in a Nov. 6 phone call, Qatar News Agency said. The emir called for protecting maritime navigation and energy supplies as the talks continued.
Trump had said Nov. 2 that an Iran deal remained possible, Reuters reported at the time. The White House schedule lists a Nov. 9 meeting between Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
