WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: The United States and Israel are actively preparing operational options for a potential week-long military campaign targeting key installations in Iran following next week’s US midterm elections, should ongoing diplomatic tracks fail, according to a report published by Axios on Wednesday. Simultaneously, Qatari-led mediators are continuing high-stakes negotiations with Iranian leadership, urging Tehran to accept nuclear operational concessions in exchange for targeted relief from US economic sanctions.
Adding to maritime instability in regional waters, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency issued a security advisory on Thursday confirming that a vessel caught fire in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, approximately nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman. The incident was visually reported by the master of a passing third-party vessel, with the fate and status of the crew aboard the damaged ship remaining unconfirmed.
US diplomatic and defense officials have proactively warned several Middle Eastern allies and Persian Gulf partner states to prepare for a possible short, intense wave of joint military strikes against Iran post-midterms, alongside potential retaliatory responses from Tehran, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump rejected reports alleging he instructed Vice President JD Vance to initiate formal peace negotiations with Tehran, clarifying on Wednesday that Vance’s outreach was strictly limited to facilitating emergency medical supplies. The response follows a report by The Wall Street Journal citing US officials, which claimed Vance sent a formal letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei under Trump’s authorization to jumpstart diplomatic engagement.
Addresssing the diplomatic negotiations on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran remains in close communication with regional mediators to expedite its seven-day framework aimed at ending hostilities with the United States and fully reopening commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Conflicting accounts regarding the status of the truce framework emerged on Wednesday: while Reuters cited a senior Iranian official asserting that Qatar had not formally presented a fresh proposal, another official close to the negotiations confirmed to Reuters that a draft agreement was submitted to Tehran on Sunday, with Iran’s official response expected by the end of the week.
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