Iran Press/ West Asia: US officials have expressed optimism about being close to a deal, but they’ve consistently failed to reach the finish line.
US high-level diplomats flocked across the Middle East ahead of a key meeting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence is certain Iran will attack. Israel has been waiting to see what sort of retaliation Iran will conduct and the US wants to prevent a wider regional war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatar’s PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a phone call on Wedensday, urged all Major players in the region to take talks seriously and not take actions that would undermine efforts to reach a deal.
Amid the US calling for an end to the war on Gaza, the Pentagon approved another $20bn in weapons transfers to Israel.
Iran announced that it won't consider sending representatives to the upcoming talks in Qatar's ceasefire talks. Egypt, Qatar, and the US will attend the meeting.
CIA Director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk will attend the Doha meeting after Antony Blinken postponed his travel to the Middle East.
The latest mediation push comes as regional tensions have soared following the July 31 killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh during a visit to Tehran.
Western leaders have urged Tehran to avoid attacking Israel over Haniyeh's killing, which came hours after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr senior commander of Hezbollah.
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