Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran aimed at restarting direct U.S.-Iran negotiations, source says

Qatari mediators have held talks with Iranian officials in an attempt to restart direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an official source familiar with the discussions told CNBC on Saturday. Iran promised a "geographically unrestricted response" to any new attacks by the U.S. Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday to reach a deal to avoid a possible resumption of American-led attacks on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Axios first reported the talks, which it said are set to continue in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday. A preliminary agreement signed on June 17 between the U.S. and Iran to halt the fighting — which began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets — broke down weeks later. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that the Iran war will end "whenever I want it to." Trump said it "would be very quick, but we have to have an end properly," with a "total statement" that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon. The last confirmed U.S. strikes on Iran occurred on Sept. 1. Trump previously left open the possibility that attacks on Iran would resume after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which are set for Tuesday. Tehran has said it is preparing a military response to any U.S. strikes. A statement posted on Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's Telegram account Saturday said that "any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response." Shipping attacks continue The Iranian Broadcasting Agency quoted a Hormozgan province official as saying Saturday that U.S. forces attacked two fishing boats off Masan near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The report has not been independently confirmed. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. It's the latest report of attacks on shipping in the economically crucial stretch of water. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported Friday that a crude oil tanker was hit by an unknown projectile as it was heading out of the strait. Separately, Iran said Friday four tankers struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen's Houthis claimed missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, escalating pressure on two fronts. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three tankers caught fire after striking mines along what it called an "unauthorized southern route" near the Omani coast. Iran's army said a fourth burned east of the strait. Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Friday and settled at their highest levels since the end of April, as traders braced for a potential escalation in the war. Brent crude futures for December, which expired on Friday, settled up $2.76, or 2.4%, at $117.64 a barrel, after touching a high of $118. The more active January contract gained $2.63 to $113.43.