Qatar Pushes for US-Iran Deal Amid Ongoing Tensions Qatari mediators have returned to Iran to push for a peace deal between Tehran and Washington, as President Donald Trump continues to threaten to resume military action against Iran. The Qatari delegation, led by a senior adviser to the prime minister and foreign minister, is scheduled to meet with senior Iranian officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. The move comes as the US and Iran remain at odds over several key issues, including the US blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions limiting the country's gas and oil sales. Iran has repeatedly warned shippers that using the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been promoted by the US, puts them at risk as the regime deems it an illegal passage. In a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that two oil tankers had been halted after unspecified "incidents" as they attempted to transit the unauthorized route. The IRGC did not specify the nature of the incidents, but warned that using the southern route puts shippers at risk. Meanwhile, the US has claimed that its naval blockade has prevented Iran from exporting any oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command's commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, reiterated that southern commercial shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz are clear of Iranian mines and safe to navigate. The US has also added two more service member deaths to its official account of casualties since the war with Iran started over eight months ago, bringing the overall death toll to 23. The deaths were non-combat related, and the Pentagon has stopped using the name Operation Epic Fury for the offensive against Iran. The Saudi-led coalition has also intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Mecca region fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis have denied any attempt to strike Saudi Arabia, but have said they only target Saudi oil facilities and military bases. The situation remains tense, with President Trump continuing to threaten to resume military action against Iran. However, the Qatari mediators' efforts to push for a peace deal may provide a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the conflict.