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Regional mediators led by Qatar are seeking to restart negotiations between the United States and Iran to prevent another outbreak of war, as Washington weighs renewed military strikes against Tehran, Axios reported Wednesday.
The diplomatic initiative, supported by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt, seeks to persuade Iran to allow United Nations inspectors access to nuclear facilities damaged during the war in exchange for partial relief from U.S. sanctions, according to Axios, citing American, Israeli and regional sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed to Axios that indirect talks with Tehran were underway through mediators but expressed uncertainty over whether they would produce an agreement.
“We need to finish the job, either through a deal or another way, we will find out if negotiations can succeed,” Trump said.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after weeks of warnings from Trump that Washington could launch large-scale strikes against Iran, raising concerns about another round of military confrontation.
In a separate development, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in an effort to revive peace negotiations.
Citing U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter, the newspaper said the outreach was undertaken at Trump's direction as Washington explored whether renewed diplomacy could avert another American military campaign against Iran in the coming weeks.
The letter and subsequent contacts between American and Iranian officials reportedly focused on establishing a possible framework for negotiations rather than discussing the specific terms of a peace agreement.
However, when asked whether he had instructed Vance to contact Iran, Trump appeared to downplay the diplomatic significance of the outreach.
“No, what it is is that they need help with medical supplies and various things,” he said.
"He asked me what I thought. I said, if you want to do that, that's okay. Basically, it's getting supplies in to help people that are not well," Trump added.
Despite the diplomatic contacts, Washington has also been preparing for the possibility of renewed military action.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that U.S. officials had told several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a possible "short, intense military campaign" against Iran following the Nov. 3 U.S. congressional midterm elections.
The newspaper, citing people briefed on the discussions, emphasized that Trump had not made a final decision on whether to launch the operation.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned that any renewed American attack would trigger broader retaliation.
Rezaei warned that Iran could target U.S.-related infrastructure, including data centers and other artificial intelligence facilities, in response to further strikes.
The diplomatic efforts come as Washington and Tehran remain divided over the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments and international trade.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities in Arab countries.
The conflict severely disrupted energy exports from Gulf countries, contributing to wider economic fallout.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, Iran began blockading the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments previously passed.
Iran has also repeatedly attacked vessels attempting to transit the waterway without its authorization, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports in an effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 and subsequently opened negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.
However, those discussions later collapsed over disagreements that included maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest mediation efforts are aimed at establishing a new diplomatic framework before the standoff escalates into another round of military confrontation.
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