[UPDATE] Qatari compromise to end the U.S.-Iran war stalls; Trump denies aides' account that he offered Iran sanctions relief

U.S. officials now say a return to major combat after the Nov. 3 midterms is possible.

The compromise. Qatari mediators carried a two-page compromise on Monday, Sept. 28, between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York and Trump envoy Jared Kushner in Washington. The paper tried to trade an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iran for Iranian nuclear steps. Neither side moved. The offer. That morning, U.S. officials said Trump would swap sanctions relief and frozen Iranian funds for concrete nuclear progress. Hours later he posted on Truth Social: "I offered them NOTHING." Iran's terms. Iran says it will weigh nuclear concessions only after the U.S. returns to the June memorandum (the interim deal both sides signed June 17). “It is stuck. The Iranians are asking for things the U.S. can't accept and the U.S. thinks it is winning so there is no need for compromise.” — a source on the talks, to Axios Still open. No mediator or government has named a date for the next round of talks.

PREVIOUSLY

Sept. 8 — Iran declared a restricted zone near the Strait of Hormuz and said it would strike threats before they happen.
Sept. 8–10 — U.S. strikes hit five Iranian oil tankers, sinking one; Iran fired 20 missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan, 18 intercepted.
Sept. 11 — The Navy planned to keep two carrier groups near Iran at least through 2026.
Sept. 14 — An unidentified projectile hit an Iranian container ship off Hengam Island, killing one; Trump wouldn't say whether the U.S. fired it.
Sept. 22 — Trump said he was choosing among wiping Iran out, letting it rot economically, or a deal.
Sept. 23–25 — With strait traffic down to two ships, Iran offered to reopen it within seven days if the U.S. lifted the blockade.
Sept. 27 — Trump rejected the offer; the Wall Street Journal reported he told staff renewed bombing was probable after the elections.
Sept. 28 — Iran's UN delegation said it had no talks planned with the U.S. and prepared to fly home.

The uranium stockpile any nuclear steps would have to cover:

440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% as of June 13, 2025, the last count the IAEA (the UN nuclear watchdog) verified; by the IAEA's rule of thumb, about 42 kg of 60% material is enough for one weapon if enriched further
The IAEA's Sept. 1 report says it cannot state the stockpile's current size or location and has no access to Iran's four declared enrichment sites