Iranian diplomat urges Washington to choose diplomacy as regional tensions persist
Negotiators in Qatar seek to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while strikes in Gaza and a hit to a Qatari gas ship keep pressure on the region's key actors.
By Marco Graham ·
Diplomatic channels remain active in an effort to prevent a return to all-out war in the Middle East. Iran's foreign minister stated on Sunday that the final outcome hinges on the answers the United States provides to specific Iranian questions.
Abbas Araghchi, who shared an interview on his Telegram channel, expressed hope that Washington would select diplomacy over other paths. He noted that Iran is prepared for both defense and diplomatic engagement, contingent on the rationality displayed by the U.S. side. Araghchi reported that Iranian negotiators are currently in Qatar working on a proposal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if several U.S. conditions are met. He clarified that no direct talks are currently taking place between the two nations.
Meanwhile, violence continued in Gaza. Israeli strikes killed eight people on Saturday, according to local hospitals. Five individuals died in Khan Younis, where Nasser Hospital received the bodies. Three others died in Gaza City, including a four-year-old boy, and a woman was seriously wounded, Shifa Hospital reported. The Israeli military said it targeted militants in Khan Younis and one Hamas fighter in northern Gaza. Since the October 2025 ceasefire, more than 1,570 Palestinians have been killed, bringing the total war death toll to over 74,500, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The conflict in Yemen also saw new developments. Houthi rebels reported two airstrikes on the University of Hodeida's medical school, blaming Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition described the action as a precision operation. The port city of Hodeida has faced repeated attacks as fighting escalates between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces. Separately, the United Nations called for an investigation into the death of a human rights staffer held by the Houthis since June 2024. This marks the second U.N. employee to die in Houthi custody, following a World Food Program worker who died in February 2025.
Maritime safety in the Persian Gulf also faced a setback. Nakilat, Qatar's liquefied natural gas shipping company, said one of its vessels, the Al Mayeda, was struck by unidentified objects on Friday night. The company stated that no crew members were injured and there was no environmental impact, with the vessel remaining operational. Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the attack and opened an investigation, noting the risks to marine life. Iran has previously claimed responsibility for ship attacks and warned against passage through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission.
Iran also intensified its diplomatic posture against the United Kingdom. State-run news agency IRNA reported that Tehran designated the British navy and air force as terrorist organizations and declared MI6 a hostile entity. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the U.K. of supporting U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran by providing military bases and logistical support. This designation could expose individuals accused of working with MI6 to prosecution under Iranian law.
Negotiations in Qatar continue as the primary mechanism for reducing immediate risks in the region.
