Iran, US still far from deal to end war

DUBAI, Nov 3:  Iran and the United States are still far from a deal to end their war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday, while mediator Qatar stepped up efforts to bridge differences and avert a renewed escalation after the US midterm elections.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the ball was in Washington's court after Tehran had delivered what he described as a "strong and rational response".

"The enemy seeks to force the Iranian nation into submission through threats and military action, but they are sorely mistaken; Iran will not submit," Qalibaf said. He added that Tehran's response to any US miscalculation would be unpredictable and unconstrained by geography.

The warnings come as countries across the region braced for the possibility that US President Donald Trump could resume attacks after the midterms.

The senior Iranian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tehran would not accept Washington's "excessive demands" and that nuclear talks could begin only after Iran's conditions were met.

Tehran would respond forcefully, in the region and beyond, to US strikes, the official added.�" REUTERS