Iran Says War Talks Failed, but Contacts Continue

Iran says talks with the United States ended without a breakthrough, but contacts over ending the war continue. That leaves a narrow channel open as people across the Gulf wait to learn whether fighting could resume after Tuesday’s US midterm elections. A 36-year-old American living in Saudi Arabia told CNN she plans to leave before the vote, saying people have become more cautious. ¹

Those contacts are unfolding after months of war. The United States and Israel began striking Iran in February, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the conflict has now entered its eighth month. Neither side has broken the military deadlock, and talks have not produced a deal. US President Donald Trump has shifted between threatening more strikes and showing interest in diplomacy, while Iran says it has weapons that can hit more targets and cause greater damage. ¹

The deadlock leaves ordinary people facing decisions without clear guidance. Gulf residents are trying to work out whether schools may close or travel could be disrupted, while the American in Saudi Arabia prepares to leave. Trump said on social media that Washington would not attack Iran before the midterms, but gave no clear answer about what comes next. His Saturday call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also reported to concern Iran, though its contents were not made public. ¹

The immediate test is whether ongoing contacts can offer a way out after talks failed to make a breakthrough. Mediation continues, but a deal would require at least one side to move past its stated red lines. For now, Trump has not said whether US strikes will resume after Tuesday’s election, and residents across the region still lack a firm basis for travel or school plans. ¹