Washington: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at the White House on Monday as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Iran continue amid growing regional tensions.
The meeting comes as Qatar intensifies its efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran and encourage both sides to reach an agreement. US Vice President JD Vance is also expected to meet the Qatari prime minister.
Despite renewed diplomatic engagement, negotiations remain difficult. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that discussions have made little progress and that a major breakthrough is not expected soon. He has also described some of Iran's demands as unacceptable.
Trump has indicated that he is unlikely to order further attacks on Iran if negotiations progress and Tehran agrees to a strong agreement. However, he has warned that the United States has identified additional targets that could be attacked if military operations resume.
His comments signal a willingness to pursue diplomacy, but they do not amount to a ceasefire or a commitment to end military operations.
Qatar has emerged as an important intermediary in the diplomatic efforts. It has maintained communication with both countries and facilitated the exchange of proposals aimed at ending the conflict.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, said on November 3 that communication between Washington and Tehran was continuing. He confirmed that a Qatari delegation had travelled to Tehran on November 2 for discussions with Iranian officials. The meeting lasted approximately three hours.
On November 5, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed also held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They discussed regional developments, diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and the importance of maintaining maritime security.
Iran has also indicated that it remains open to negotiations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on November 8 that Tehran's proposal for ending the conflict remained on the table. The proposal calls for an end to hostilities across the region and includes conditions that Washington has yet to accept.
Iran is reportedly seeking an end to the US blockade of its ports, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and compensation for damage caused during the conflict. It has also called for an end to military operations across the region.
However, the nuclear issue remains one of the biggest obstacles to an agreement. Washington wants any settlement to address concerns about Iran's nuclear programme and its stockpile of enriched uranium. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The diplomatic developments are taking place alongside continuing military and maritime tensions. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, remains a major concern for regional and international security.
On November 8, explosions were reported in several locations in southern Iran, including Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state television said there was no confirmation that the explosions were caused by missile strikes. The circumstances surrounding the incidents remained unclear.
Iran also reported that two vessels had struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz and that another vessel had caught fire. Separately, the US military said it had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports.
Further concerns emerged on November 9 after an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy official said that navigation aid systems in the southern Strait of Hormuz had been destroyed. The official also claimed that no unauthorised vessels had passed through the waterway overnight. The circumstances surrounding the reported damage have not been independently established.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important routes for international energy supplies. Around 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the waterway daily in 2025, making any prolonged disruption a serious concern for global markets. The route is also important for liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar.
Continued disruption could affect oil prices, shipping costs and energy supplies, particularly in Asian countries that depend heavily on imports passing through the region.
With military tensions continuing and negotiations facing major obstacles, Qatar's diplomatic efforts are becoming increasingly important. However, whether the White House meeting will lead to meaningful progress remains uncertain.
For now, Washington and Tehran remain far apart on key issues, while the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz continues to threaten regional stability and international trade.