On November 9, 2026, Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Mohammed, met U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in Washington to discuss regional developments and ways to advance U.S.–Iran talks. After the meeting, Qatar's prime minister described the discussions as positive. Trump said the war was “effectively over” in military terms, while leaving open the possibility of further military action.

That same day, Saudi Arabia's East–West crude oil pipeline came under attack, and a halt in production was confirmed at the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Talks are moving forward even as energy transport and civilian energy supplies continue to feel the effects of the conflict.

Iran seeks an end to the port blockade before nuclear talks. Rubio calls the terms unrealistic

Negotiating table showing Iran's proposed sequence and Rubio's response.
Original Chinese illustration · English guideIran proposes ending the bombing and lifting the blockade of its ports first, with talks on the nuclear program and remaining sanctions to follow. The three cards show those steps from left to right. The separate panel attributes to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the view that the terms are unrealistic. The illustration presents each side's stated position, and there is still no joint agreement.

Reuters reported that Iran proposed a halt to bombing, an end to the blockade of its ports and an easing of some sanctions in exchange for Iran ending its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Talks on its nuclear program and the remaining sanctions would follow. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei defended the proposal on November 9, calling it the most reasonable roadmap. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously called the terms unrealistic and expressed doubts about a near-term breakthrough.

The dispute centers on which steps come first. Tehran wants economic relief and a ceasefire arrangement in place before discussing the nuclear issue. Washington wants assurances that commitments to reopen the strait and restrict Iran's nuclear program would be binding. Mediators can relay proposals, but a single meeting cannot resolve both sides' doubts about whether the terms would be honored.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on November 9 that the International Atomic Energy Agency had recently inspected the Bushehr nuclear power plant and that technical discussions between Iran and the agency were continuing. The announcement shows that a channel for verification remains open and concerns an inspection at this one plant. Whether those limited contacts can lead to an arrangement covering the main points of dispute will depend on what the parties negotiate next.

Trump told Reuters in a phone interview that Qatar and Saudi Arabia were working toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, but that the United States had kept further strikes on the table. He spoke positively about progress in the talks and stressed that U.S. forces remained ready. The Saudi and Omani foreign ministers spoke by phone on November 9 and called for continued diplomatic engagement to prevent regional escalation and protect shipping. Military pressure continues alongside efforts to ease tensions, and the public statements from Washington and Tehran have yet to yield a joint announcement ending the conflict.

Saudi officials say the East–West pipeline remains operational after an attack. An Iraqi gas field halts production

Models of Saudi Arabia's East–West oil pipeline and Iraq's Khor Mor gas field, with their reported operating status.
Original Chinese illustration · English guideThe left panel identifies Saudi Arabia's East–West crude oil pipeline. A Saudi energy official said pipeline operations were unaffected after the attack. The right panel identifies the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq, where joint operator Dana Gas said production was suspended following a suspected drone attack. Responsibility for that attack remains undetermined.

Saudi Arabia disclosed on November 9 that an attack on the East–West crude oil pipeline in the Medina region had started a limited fire. A Saudi energy official said the fire had been extinguished, there were no casualties and pipeline operations were unaffected. The pipeline carries crude oil via a route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, making it an alternative outlet for Gulf exports.

The impact on the Khor Mor gas field was more direct. Media reports cited a November 9 statement from joint operator Dana Gas saying production had been suspended after a suspected drone attack on the facility on the night of November 8. The fire was extinguished, no employees were injured, and the company was assessing the damage. Responsibility for the attack remained undetermined. The field supplies gas for power generation in the Kurdistan Region, so the suspension exposes local energy services directly to the effects of the conflict.

Military pressure also extended to the area near the Strait of Hormuz. On November 9, Reuters cited Iranian media reports that the United States had struck Qeshm Island the previous night. Local Iranian officials said critical infrastructure and public services were unaffected.

Prospects for talks improve, but safe shipping is still some way off

A port and energy facility below three questions about de-escalation.
Original Chinese illustration · English guideThe illustration gives three practical signs to watch for as tensions ease: how blockade measures are adjusted, whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stabilizes, and when facilities that suspended production can restart.

Continued operation of the East–West crude oil pipeline helps limit the attack's immediate impact on supply. The suspension at Khor Mor shows how strikes can still interrupt production at individual facilities. Whether tensions genuinely ease will ultimately depend on how blockade measures change, whether shipping through the strait stabilizes and when facilities that have suspended production restart.

Key Developments

Three panels showing Qatar's mediation, Saudi Arabia's pipeline and the Khor Mor gas field.
Original Chinese illustration · English guideThe panel labeled “Talks” shows Qatar's prime minister's positive assessment of the discussions as U.S.–Iran talks move forward. The pipeline panel shows Saudi officials' account that operations continued unaffected after the attack. The last panel shows the suspension of production at Iraq's Khor Mor gas field.
Key Developments (Beijing time)
11-10 08:32Trump said the talks were going well and that military action appeared unnecessary for the time being, while stressing that U.S. forces remained ready.
11-10 07:02After meeting Qatar's prime minister, Trump said the war with Iran was “effectively over” in military terms.
11-10 06:59Qatar's prime minister said he had discussed regional developments and ways to advance U.S.–Iran talks with Trump and Vance, and described the meeting as positive.
11-10 05:01Trump told Reuters in a phone interview that Qatar and Saudi Arabia were working toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, but that the United States had kept further strikes on the table.
11-10 00:49Media reports citing Saudi officials said an attack on the East–West crude oil pipeline had started a fire and that pipeline operations were unaffected.
11-09 23:44The Saudi and Omani foreign ministers spoke by phone and called for continued diplomatic engagement to prevent regional escalation and protect shipping.
11-09 22:42Dana Gas said the Khor Mor gas field had suspended production after a suspected drone attack on the night of November 8. The fire was extinguished and no employees were injured.
11-09Iran's Foreign Ministry said the International Atomic Energy Agency had recently inspected the Bushehr nuclear power plant and that technical discussions with the agency were continuing.
11-09Iranian media reported that the United States had struck Qeshm Island the previous night. Local Iranian officials said critical infrastructure and public services were unaffected.