Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran over the strait of Hormuz ran into a third day on Sunday, according to The Guardian. Talks in Doha are focused in part on Qatar's effort to negotiate the release of $6bn in Iranian assets, a step that could lead to the strait reopening.

The Guardian, in a report by diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour, said officials from the Gulf states are "braced for the worst" as they wait for Washington's response to an Iranian proposal. That proposal could reopen the strait before the US midterm elections on Tuesday, the report said.

The New York Times reported that Iranian officials spoke of "some progress" in negotiating to reopen the strait, a vital oil and gas shipping lane, even as they prepare for all-out war. Its headline stated that Iran says it would reopen the strait in two days as part of a U.S. deal. The report was written by Erika Solomon and Sanam Mahoozi, according to The New York Times.

The two accounts differ in emphasis. The Guardian's reporting centers on Gulf officials waiting for a reply from Washington, while The New York Times reported on statements from Iranian officials pointing to progress. Neither summary available for this report confirms whether the United States has responded to the Iranian proposal, and neither describes the terms of any agreement.

Sources: The Guardian: Negotiators ‘braced for worst’ over US-Iran talks to reopen strait of Hormuz; The New York Times: Iran Says It Would Reopen Strait of Hormuz in 2 Days as Part of U.S. Deal.