Iran and US remain far apart despite Qatar mediation
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
Iran and the United States remain far from an agreement intended to end their war, while Qatar seeks to bring their positions closer. Talks concern oil sanctions, the US naval blockade and frozen Iranian funds, according to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters.
Iran and the United States remain far from an agreement aimed at ending their conflict, as Qatar intensifies its mediation between Tehran and Washington. Qatari negotiators are seeking to narrow differences before a possible resumption of tensions after the US midterm elections, according to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters on Tuesday.
Iran is making the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz conditional on the lifting of US oil sanctions, an end to the naval blockade and the unfreezing of its funds. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, deemed the US response insufficient and called for Washington to respond explicitly to Tehran’s seven conditions.
The United States carried out overnight strikes described as “defensive” against surface-to-air missiles on Iran’s Qeshm Island, according to a US official quoted by Reuters. Another official said the strikes appeared limited and did not mark a return to major military operations.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said the two sides were examining the mediators’ proposals. An official briefed on the discussions expects their responses within 36 hours, while Donald Trump told Fox News that military action remained possible if it were needed to prevent further violence.
The discussions extend the mediation launched after a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on 30 October. They come on the day Qatar proposed a compromise between Iran and the United States.
