Iran Negotiator Says U.S. Must Show Rationality to Avoid War

Iran’s foreign minister stated on Saturday that ongoing consultations aim to prevent a return to all-out war, with the final outcome hinging on the United States’ response to specific Iranian questions.

Abbas Araghchi, who shared an interview on his Telegram channel, expressed hope that Washington would select diplomacy over other avenues. He asserted that Iran is prepared for both defense and diplomatic engagement, contingent on what he described as American rationality. Araghchi confirmed that Iranian negotiators are currently in Qatar discussing a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the U.S. meets several conditions, though he noted that no direct talks are taking place between the two nations.

In Gaza, Israeli military strikes resulted in the deaths of eight people on Sunday. A strike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed five individuals, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. A separate strike in Gaza City killed three people, including a four-year-old boy, and seriously wounded a woman, per Shifa Hospital records. The Israeli military said it targeted several militants in Khan Younis and one Hamas fighter in northern Gaza.

A ceasefire established in October 2025 has largely halted major fighting, yet near-daily Israeli strikes have persisted. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that more than 1,570 Palestinians have died since the truce began, raising the war’s overall death toll to more than 74,500. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and militants. Israel maintains that its strikes target military assets and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Tensions also flared in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels reported two airstrikes on the medical school at the University of Hodeida. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV channel attributed the strikes to Saudi Arabia, which did not immediately provide casualty figures. The Saudi-led coalition stated it had conducted a precision operation. Hodeida has faced repeated attacks since fighting escalated months ago between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces, reigniting the country’s civil war.

In the Persian Gulf, Qatar’s liquefied natural gas shipping company Nakilat announced that one of its vessels, the Al Mayeda, was struck by unidentified objects on Friday night. The company, officially known as Qatar Gas Transport Co., reported that the ship sustained damage but no crew members were injured and there was no environmental impact. The vessel remained operational, and the statement did not identify the shooter. 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.

The United Nations called for an investigation after Mohammad el Shami, a staffer with its human rights office, became the second U.N. employee to die in Houthi custody. U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said el Shami had been held since June 2024 and that the Houthis failed to provide information on his well-being or proof of life despite repeated requests. A World Food Program worker also died in Houthi custody in February 2025.

Iran designated the British navy and air force as terrorist organizations and declared the MI6 foreign intelligence service a hostile entity, according to state-run news agency IRNA. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United Kingdom of participating in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran by providing military bases and logistical support. The designation could expose individuals accused of working with MI6 to prosecution under Iranian law and increase the risk of military confrontation.