Qatar in talks with US, Iran to de-escalate crisis as the two nations trade blows - report
Iranian armed forces launched attacks on US military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following US strikes on Iran's southern provinces, further eroding a three-week-old ceasefire
Assessment
Qatar's mediation efforts mark a diplomatic push to contain a spiraling cycle of retaliation between the US and Iran. The reported strikes and counterstrikes have already undone a fragile three-week ceasefire. The question is whether Qatari talks can gain traction before further attacks widen the conflict.