Mediator Qatar gives an upbeat assessment of discussions aimed at turning the US-Iran agreement into a lasting deal.
• Qatar talks: Iranian negotiators have left Doha as the Islamic Republic pauses diplomacy ahead of a multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Qatar said Wednesday that the discussions through mediators between the US and Iran made “positive progress.”
• Funeral preparations: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Iranians to attend the supreme leader’s funeral in “large numbers,” while the nation’s army general warned the US and Israel against launching attacks during the procession.
• Straits warning: Iran also issued a fresh warning on Thursday for vessels to follow Tehran-designated routes through the Strait of Hormuz, once again spotlighting the tensions over the crucial waterway.
• Missing crew: Meanwhile, the US Navy is searching for a missing crew member after a helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea, underscoring the ongoing risks troops face even as talks halt fighting.
