US-Iran Peace Talks Continue Despite Fresh Airstrikes

Doha/Washington: Even after the latest American airstrikes on Iranian military positions, backchannel peace negotiations between the United States and Iran continue to remain active in Qatar. Iran’s senior diplomat Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has reportedly stayed in Doha to keep diplomatic communication open at a time when tensions in the Middle East are once again reaching a dangerous peak.

The United States carried out targeted airstrikes near the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the operation was aimed at destroying Iranian missile launchers and naval mines. According to reports, four Iranian soldiers were killed in the attack. Iran’s Foreign Ministry reacted sharply, calling the strikes a “betrayal” and a “direct violation of the temporary ceasefire understanding.”

Despite the strong condemnation, Tehran has not withdrawn from the peace negotiations being mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. Diplomatic sources indicate that Iran currently wants to avoid a large-scale military retaliation that could completely derail the ongoing talks.

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At the center of these negotiations is Iran’s demand for the release of its frozen $12 billion assets and easing restrictions on Iranian oil exports. Tehran is reportedly attempting to project the negotiations as a strategic diplomatic victory while protecting its economic interests amid mounting international pressure.

The fresh escalation has already rattled global markets. Brent crude oil prices surged by nearly four percent following the strikes, raising fears of another major energy crisis if the conflict spreads across the Gulf region.

Meanwhile, Iran is also pushing to include a ceasefire arrangement linked to the Israel-Lebanon conflict as part of the broader regional settlement. However, the situation on that front continues to worsen. Israeli forces have reportedly intensified ground operations in southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings to residents across 19 villages.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a message released during the Hajj pilgrimage period, issued a sharp warning against both Washington and Tel Aviv. He stated that “America’s era is nearing its end, and Israel is moving closer to its collapse.”

In Washington, the White House has treated the situation as an urgent national security matter. President Donald Trump has reportedly called a rare high-level Cabinet meeting at Camp David, where discussions surrounding Iran are expected to dominate the agenda.

Camp David has historically served as the venue for some of the world’s most significant diplomatic negotiations, including the landmark 1978 Egypt-Israel peace agreement under President Jimmy Carter and the 2000 Israel-Palestine summit during Bill Clinton’s administration.

Diplomatic observers believe the coming days could determine whether the region moves toward a fragile peace framework or slips deeper into a wider military confrontation.

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