Tehran:A potential agreement to end the ongoing war involving Iran and the United States remains out of reach, as Tehran has reiterated its previous stance while Qatar continues to mediate.

According to Iraqi News Agency, a senior Iranian official indicated that despite Qatar’s intensified efforts to bridge the gap and prevent further escalation, the United States and Iran are still far from an agreement. The mediation efforts are particularly crucial given the recent U.S. midterm elections.

The United States conducted what it termed as “defensive” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, targeting surface-to-air missiles that had been used against American assets. Despite these strikes, a U.S. official stated that they seemed limited and did not suggest a return to large-scale combat operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on Tuesday, expressing on Fox News that while he does not aim to cause large-scale casualties, the U.S. is prepared to take action if necessary.

Qatar has increased its mediation efforts out of concern that the conflict, originally initiated by the United States and Israel in February, might reignite following the midterm elections. Qatari mediators visited Tehran recently to discuss a draft U.S.-Iranian agreement, which has been in negotiation for eight days.

The senior Iranian official emphasized that Tehran’s conditions, including the lifting of oil sanctions, ending the U.S. naval blockade, and the release of frozen Iranian assets, must be met for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened.