Trump Meets Qatar's Prime Minister on Iran Proposal, No Deal Announced, as Tanker Attack and Saudi Pipeline Fire Are Reported

Since Qatar's prime minister headed to Washington with Iran's interim Hormuz proposal, the meeting itself has happened. President Donald Trump met Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House on Monday, Nov. 9. No agreement has been announced, and the sources show no sign that Washington has accepted the proposal.

The diplomacy comes in the ninth month of a war that began Feb. 28 with Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran.

What is on the table

Mediators have been discussing a two-day plan, according to Axios. Under it, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade and release some frozen Iranian funds. Iran would then take steps toward renewed nuclear inspections and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before broader talks resume.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Tehran is waiting for Washington's response. "Meet the requirement, including end to war on all fronts, and you will see results," he wrote on X. "Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened Warriors rain down hell."

An Iranian official said Friday that talks hinge on seven Iranian conditions, including release of billions in frozen overseas assets and relief from U.S. sanctions.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Iran favors dialogue and can "negotiate with dignity," but will not yield to coercion. He said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has told officials to end the state of "neither war nor peace."

Al-Thani said both sides are still working toward a deal. "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement," he said. "We hope to reach a good agreement."

Washington's position

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before he left for the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris, said, "I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough." He called some Iranian demands "outrageous and ridiculous." He added that the president would prefer to solve this diplomatically, though "sometimes that's not possible, unfortunately."

The administration wants upfront concessions on Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile and access for international inspectors. Inspectors have been barred from Iran's main nuclear sites since U.S. strikes in June 2025. A memorandum of understanding reached in mid-June did not require initial nuclear concessions, and it unraveled soon after signing over shipping through Hormuz.

Trump told CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday he is not looking to escalate. "I don't think there's any reason to," he said. He told CNN it is "highly unlikely" strikes would be needed if Iran signs "a very strong agreement." He also said the U.S. has identified more targets, including 38 bridges, and that he does not want to destroy infrastructure Iranians would struggle to rebuild.

Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is open. Events on the water over the weekend point the other way.

Ships and pipelines

The UK Maritime Trade Operations center said Monday that a tanker found ablaze Saturday, 8 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, was attacked. The crew evacuated. The agency named no perpetrator and did not identify the vessel.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB said four tankers were "brought to a standstill" in the strait over the previous 24 hours. It gave no detail. Both Iran and the U.S. have attacked ships they say are breaching their restrictions on the waterway.

On Saturday, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper created Task Force Iron Gate to stop Iran from moving advanced weapons, dual-use technology and sanctioned goods over land borders and through the Caspian Sea. It extends the existing naval blockade. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "very little gets into, or out of, Iran."

Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said a "limited fire" broke out on a section of the East-West Crude Oil Pipeline in the Medina region, the second time the line has been targeted. No deaths or injuries were reported.

In delayed quotes, Brent was near $93.56, down about 4.8%. WTI was near $87.62, down about 3.5%.

Possible Vance channel

Middle East Eye reported Monday that Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin said Qatar would host Vice President JD Vance and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, for talks next week. A senior Iranian official denied any such meeting is planned, according to Press TV. The White House did not respond to Al-Monitor's request for comment.

Vance led the U.S. delegation at April's talks in Islamabad and wrote to Rezaei last month proposing another round.

Pressure at home

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced updated articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor Monday. That restarts a two-day clock for GOP leaders to schedule a vote. The 34-page resolution has eight articles. Three accuse Hegseth of abusing Defense Department powers by waging war on Iran without congressional authorization.

"We're not worried about that," Hegseth told reporters. He said he will hold a news conference on the effort Tuesday morning.

Vance wrote on X a day after Democrats won majorities in both chambers that his party's defeat was due to the Iran war's unpopularity.

Rubio is in Paris for a two-day G7 meeting where Iran and Ukraine are expected to dominate. Iran's answer to the two-day proposal depends on a U.S. reply that has not come, and Hegseth's Tuesday news conference could signal whether House leaders will schedule the impeachment vote.