Indirect diplomacy between the United States and Iran continues through Qatari mediators, centered on sequencing steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift U.S. naval blockades and sanctions, release frozen assets, and address Iran's nuclear program. Late September 2026 shuttle talks on the UN General Assembly sidelines produced an amended Iranian proposal for a seven-day Hormuz reopening followed by broader negotiations, though President Trump publicly rejected it while signaling openness to further contacts. As of early October, U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized demands for a meaningful reduction in uranium enrichment levels. These developments, alongside Iran's reported flexibility on nuclear issues and insistence on prior memorandum terms, shape trader assessments of whether direct or expanded attendance at peace talks can occur before year-end amid persistent sequencing disputes and enforcement risks.