Iranian Negotiators in Qatar Seek Strait Reopening as Qatari LNG Ship Takes Hit

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, stated on Saturday that Iranian negotiators are currently in Qatar working on a proposal that would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen within two days if the United States meets specific conditions. He emphasized that no direct talks are occurring between Tehran and Washington, but that the final outcome depends on how the U.S. answers a set of questions from Iran. In an interview posted on his Telegram channel, Araghchi expressed hope that the U.S. would choose diplomacy over other paths, noting that Iran is prepared for both defense and diplomacy based on Washington's rationality.

The diplomatic maneuvering coincides with a physical incident in the waterway. Qatar's liquefied natural gas shipping company, Nakilat, reported that its vessel Al Mayeda was struck by unidentified objects while in the Persian Gulf on Friday night. The company stated that the ship sustained damage but remained operational, with no crew members injured and no environmental impact recorded. Nakilat did not identify who fired the objects, though Iran has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on ships and warned against vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz without permission. Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the attack and said authorities were investigating the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had a very good talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. The two discussed the war in Iran, but Trump provided no further details. Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the call. Some Israeli observers have suggested Netanyahu may be eager to resume attacks on Iran to salvage his political standing after he and his allies lost their majority in parliament following last week's elections.

Violence continues in Gaza despite a ceasefire that began in October 2025. Israeli strikes on Sunday killed eight people. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported five deaths from a strike in the city's south, while Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported three deaths, including a four-year-old boy, and a seriously wounded woman from a strike in the north. The Israeli military said it targeted militants in Khan Younis and one Hamas militant in northern Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, has recorded more than 1,570 Palestinian deaths since the truce began, bringing the total war death toll to over 74,500. Israel maintains its strikes target militant assets and accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields.

Yemen's Houthi rebels blamed Saudi Arabia for two airstrikes on the medical school at the University of Hodeida. Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-run channel, reported the strikes, though no casualty count was immediately available. The Saudi-led coalition described the action as a precision operation. The port city of Hodeida has faced repeated attacks since fighting intensified between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces, reigniting Yemen's civil war.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric called for an investigation after Mohammad el Shami, a staffer with the UN human rights office, died in Houthi custody. El Shami had been held since June 2024, and the Houthis did not provide proof of life despite repeated requests. He is the second UN employee to die in Houthi custody, following the death of a World Food Program worker in February 2025.

Iran also designated the British navy and air force as terrorist organizations and declared the MI6 foreign intelligence service a hostile entity. State-run news agency IRNA reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United Kingdom of participating in U.S. and Israeli attacks by providing military bases and logistical support. The designation could allow Iran to prosecute individuals accused of working with MI6 under domestic law.