Reuters: Iran, US still far apart on deal

Iran and the United States are still far from a deal to end their war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, as US President Donald Trump declined to rule out a resumption of US combat operations after the elections in the United States.

"Mediators are working hard to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington," the senior Iranian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Tehran's conditions must be met if the US wants Hormuz reopened," the Iranian official cautioned, referring to Iranian demands including waiving oil sanctions, ending the US naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said both the ⁠United States and Iran were reviewing proposals put forward by mediators. While the Qatari team that travelled to Tehran had returned to Doha, talks were continuing. Qatar remained hopeful a deal could still be reached to pave the way for future negotiations.

An official briefed on the talks said feedback from Washington and Tehran was expected within the next 36 hours.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters later that there is no deadline for exchanging messages with Washington through mediators or reviewing responses.

The senior Iranian official said Tehran would not accept Washington's "excessive demands" and that nuclear talks could ⁠begin only after Iran's conditions were met.

Tehran would respond forcefully, in the region and beyond, to US strikes, the official added.