Iran’s delegation left the negotiations in Qatar after a tense weekend, the Associated Press reported. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran and the United States remained far from a deal to end the war, that mediators were working hard to narrow the gaps, and that Tehran’s conditions must be met if Washington wanted Hormuz reopened. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said reopening the strait in two days depends entirely on Washington’s will and decision to accept Iran’s demands. Qatar said it saw hope for a deal as proposals were exchanged in real time.

[PBS/AP] [Just Security/Reuters] [Euronews]

Axios reported that Qatar circulated a draft proposing three days of confidence-building measures before direct talks, while Iran proposed reopening Hormuz the day after Washington implements its commitments; both sides were reviewing proposals. Two regional officials told AP that mediators were trying to advance a framework under which Iran would cease its attacks in the strait in return for the United States lifting its blockade of Iranian ports. The Qatari track has now carried a seven-day draft, Iran’s two-day plan and a three-day sequence within ten days.

[Thotharis/Axios] [PBS/AP]

Trump pledged on October 8 that there would be no US strikes on Iran before the November 3 midterms. AP and WBUR described Monday’s Qeshm strikes as coming despite that pledge; US officials called them limited and defensive, in response to Iranian fire on a US aircraft. With the vote held, the pledge’s window has closed. Trump called the conflict a very soft war, said Iran would get the hammer soon if talks were not fruitful, and said the US could strike the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site in one hour — a detail of the remark logged on Day 248. Netanyahu pressed Trump for renewed strikes in a weekend call, according to two regional officials.

[WBUR] [Fox] [PBS/AP] [Washington Post/AP]

A paid briefing summarising regional reporting said Israel denied taking part in the Qeshm strikes, Iran confirmed continuing talks with Saudi Arabia, Oman and China called for restoration of the Islamabad memorandum, China’s foreign minister met Iranian and Saudi security officials, and President Putin discussed strategic cooperation with Iran’s security council secretary. It also said an attack near Oman killed an Indian seafarer and that the Qatari LNG carrier Al Mayeda had been bound for Pakistan. These items come from a single secondary source and are recorded as reported, pending confirmation.

[Thotharis briefing]

Tracker status holds at WAR RESUMED. Day 249 closes the pre-election window that has framed the war since October 8: limited US strikes the day before the vote, Iran’s negotiators out of Doha on the day itself, and a senior Iranian official saying the sides remain far apart. Qatar keeps the channel open with a three-day sequence; Trump threatens the hammer; Netanyahu presses for strikes. No ceasefire is in force.