Why it’s important: A new bombing offensive appears likely soon after the midterms without a last-minute deal. IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke Monday with CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper to coordinate in anticipation of potential attacks.
- Such an operation is expected to include a week of massive strikes against Iran’s leaders, as well as energy, nuclear and infrastructure targets, US and Israeli officials say.
What he says: President Trump told Axios in a brief interview on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were taking place through mediators, but stressed that he did not know whether they would bear fruit.
- “We need to finish the job – either through an agreement or some other way – and we will see if the negotiations can succeed,” he said.
- “While our courageous armed forces are fully prepared to defend the homeland, Iran continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.
Behind the scenes: The mediation efforts are being led by Qatar, with support from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, according to sources.
- Qatari negotiator Ali al-Thawadi visited Tehran earlier this week to speak with Iranian officials about a possible deal with the Trump administration.
- A regional source briefed on the discussions said the Qataris had presented ideas on how to bridge the gap between the U.S. demand that Iran give up its stockpile of enriched uranium and Iran’s insistence that the United States first lift its naval blockade and release frozen Iranian funds.
- The regional source and a U.S. official said mediators were telling Iran that accepting the proposals could be the only way to avoid major attacks after the midterms.
- Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani security officials reinforced that message during a visit to Tehran several days ago.
- The Iranians responded that they would seek approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei for the ideas in the coming days, the regional source said.
- After the visit to Tehran, Saudi officials told the White House that the Iranians were concerned about a possible U.S.-Israeli bombing operation after the midterms, according to a U.S. official. The Saudis have asked Trump not to rush into war and to allow more time for negotiations.
Zoom: One idea under discussion is returning to the deal Iran reached last year in Cairo with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
- The September 2025 agreement allowed UN inspectors to resume visits to Iranian nuclear sites. It was suspended after the UN Security Council reimposed “rollback” sanctions on Iran a month later.
- IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that reviving the Cairo accord could provide a framework to restore inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities damaged by U.S. and Israeli strikes.
- If Iran agrees to allow U.N. inspectors to visit its nuclear sites, it could receive waivers to sell oil and see some of its frozen funds freed to buy food and other humanitarian goods, the regional source said.
- “There is movement. We are waiting for the Iranian response,” this person said. “The idea is that the Iranians will be able to say that they have not given up on enriched uranium outright, and the United States will be able to say that they have obtained nuclear concessions from Iran.”
The other side: The regional source said the White House told mediators it would decide on the proposed deal after learning whether Iran accepted it.
- Trump discussed Iran with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff during a trip to Texas on Air Force One on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he discussed Iran with his national security team as part of his intelligence briefing, U.S. officials said.
- “As the president has stated, they have been systematically destroyed, both militarily and financially, and unless they quickly change their ways, we will soon finish the job,” a White House official said.
- “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the collapse of the Iranian economy,” the official added. “Iran has been decimated and one way or another the conflict in Iran will end very soon.”
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