US envoy calls for pause as Washington and Tehran say talks are close

US envoy Tom Barrack said Washington and Tehran were very close to an initial understanding on a process for de-escalation. He called for both sides to pause hostilities and bring tensions down, and he credited Qatar and Pakistan with opening a path to diplomacy.

Barrack cautioned that a pause would not immediately resolve the conflict, but could give the region room to set its own pace toward a broader settlement. Concerns remain that the United States and Israel could resume major strikes on Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections if diplomatic efforts fail, and US military planners have reportedly prepared options for renewed attacks.

Qatar is leading mediation efforts, and a proposed framework reportedly addresses Washington's nuclear concerns as well as Tehran's demands over sanctions and a US naval blockade. A senior Iranian official, however, described the latest ideas conveyed through Qatar as unacceptable. US President Donald Trump said negotiations are continuing through intermediaries while military action remains an option. For Gulf countries, a breakthrough could reduce security risks, shipping disruptions and pressure on energy markets.