IranBack to Tehran: Qatar Carries a Revised Draft, Trump Says the War Is Nearly Over, and CENTCOM Says the Southern Lanes Are Open
Day 245 in one line: Qatar flew back to Tehran with a revised draft and a weekend deadline for Iran’s answer, as the American president said the war would soon be over and his commander said Iran’s navy already was.
Qatar’s Second Trip
A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday to convey revisions to the draft deal Qatar presented to Iran on Sunday, October 25 — first reported on October 28 and logged in the Day 243 brief — a source confirmed to CBS; Iran’s response is expected by the weekend. IRNA confirmed the arrival and described it as a continuation of Qatar’s mediation, without mentioning a draft. An official briefed on the talks described a seven-day timeline with daily confidence-building steps by both sides and several countries acting as guarantors, with the clock possibly starting early next week. A senior Iranian official told Reuters Doha had offered only ideas Tehran found unacceptable. Pakistan said it was cautiously optimistic about the mediation. On Wednesday Foreign Minister Araghchi said Tehran was reviewing ideas with intermediaries for carrying out Iran’s own seven-day proposal.
"Wrapped Up Soon"
Trump said the war with Iran was "going to get wrapped up soon" but did not say how, CBS reported. Two diplomats quoted in earlier coverage said US officials had warned Middle Eastern allies to prepare for possible renewed strikes after the midterms, and that Trump has made no final decision. The pledge of no strikes before November 3 stands.
CENTCOM: "Destroyed," "Safe and Open"
Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said Iran’s navy had been destroyed and that the southern shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz were safe and open. Central Command also said an Iranian claim to have destroyed a US drone was false. Iran said four tankers were on fire after hitting mines and that a supertanker caught fire after striking a mine; a vessel caught fire after an incident northeast of Oman. Maritime security officials have said there is no evidence of mines in the strait, and this tracker records Iran’s claims as unverified.
Saudi Arabia, and the Travel Map
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted Houthi drones in the Mecca region and toward Riyadh, and a missile toward the western region. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree denied any attempt to strike Saudi Arabia on Friday, saying the group targets only Saudi oil facilities and military bases. Flydubai cancelled flights to three Saudi cities, Singapore Airlines cancelled two Dubai flights, and the Dakar Rally was moved to Portugal and Morocco following the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Logged Late from October 28
Reuters reported that oil rose above $115 a barrel on Wednesday, October 28, after a Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery on the Gulf coast. The attack was not in the Day 243 brief and is recorded here; damage and casualty details were not given in the reporting reviewed.
Status Assessment
Tracker status holds at WAR RESUMED. Day 245 gives the diplomatic track a near-term deadline: a revised Qatari draft in Tehran, an answer expected by the weekend, and a reported seven-day sequence with guarantors. Against it stand Iran’s public scepticism, the post-midterm strike preparations, and the President’s unexplained promise that it will all end soon. No ceasefire is in force. The midterms are four days away.