Senator Murphy from Qatar: The U.S. should pursue a deal with Iran, not a return to military strikes

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said on Sunday from Qatar that Washington should make reaching a deal with Iran a priority instead of returning to military strikes, as Al Jazeera reports. Murphy, who is visiting the Middle East, wrote on the X platform that a deal ending the eight-month war is possible, but must be pursued ahead of the military option.

According to the international media report, Murphy met in Doha with Ali al-Thawadi, whom he described as a key diplomat coordinating diplomatic outreach between the U.S. and Iran. The meeting comes at a moment when indirect talks, mediated by Qatar, are expected to resume on Monday — but after President Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week in exchange for lifting the blockade on Iranian ports and releasing frozen assets.

Murphy’s statements come after he saw the war damage in the region at close hand. His stance adds to the voices within the U.S. Congress calling for a diplomatic end to the conflict, at a time when the Trump administration, according to American media, is again weighing the military option after the November elections. Murphy said he would keep followers informed about his visit, without giving details on the content of his meeting with al-Thawadi.

Meanwhile the U.S.–Iran war is entering its eighth month, with the Strait of Hormuz still blocked and oil prices above $100 a barrel, while diplomatic efforts to reopen the sea route continue through regional mediators.