The U.S. is weighing options for a new round of strikes against Iran, following reports by the Wall Street Journal that General Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, briefed President Donald Trump on related plans on Thursday. Meanwhile, Vice President Vance sent a letter to Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, via Qatari mediators, proposing direct negotiations to end the war and including Iran's nuclear program on the negotiation agenda. On Friday, Qatari mediators visited Tehran again for talks. Analysts point out that while Washington is preparing for war, it is also keeping diplomatic channels open, but mutual trust remains a key obstacle to reaching an agreement. Some analyses suggest that Donald Trump is unlikely to order a large-scale attack before the midterm elections, but a major attack could be launched in mid-to-late November to advance the U.S. agenda.