Iran and Qatar carried on ceasefire negotiations for a third day, with Iran's foreign minister saying on Sunday that consultations with mediating countries were moving along well, according to VOA 한국어 홈페이지. Abbas Araghchi told reporters that whether the talks reach a final outcome depends on how the United States responds.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Trump has not yet decided whether to strike Iran again, speaking at a press conference during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Rubio added that the administration favors a diplomatic solution, VOA 한국어 홈페이지 reported.
Trump himself told reporters on Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida that the US had disabled a large share of Iran's military capability. He said one or two sites remained to be dealt with and that the job could be done in about ten minutes. He named Pickaxe Mountain, described as a major underground nuclear facility, as one of the locations still to be addressed and said it could be handled very quickly.
The talks are being mediated by Qatar, and Iran's foreign ministry has tied any final agreement to the American answer. Coverage from the region also included an Iranian military statement that US assets outside West Asia would be hit if America attacks, and a UAE official expressing hope for a breakthrough while saying the worst case is being prepared for.
What to watch next: whether Washington gives its formal reply to the mediators' proposal, and whether Trump acts on the remaining sites he mentioned.
