Qatar is expected to hold separate talks tonight (Monday) and tomorrow with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the American side in New York, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to Reuters. The meetings come amid intensive mediation efforts by intermediary nations to restart contacts, while ramping up pressure on Tehran to agree to substantial concessions on its nuclear program.
2+Meanwhile, a U.S. official told News Nation that talks with Iran through intermediaries have remained “positive and constructive,” but the U.S. is showing “skepticism” toward Tehran following the collapse of the last memorandum of understanding. According to the official, President Donald Trump is willing to offer Iran sanctions relief and release frozen funds in exchange for “real progress” on its nuclear program. The official added that Iran is signaling flexibility on nuclear issues, but the sides remain divided over timing and the question of who takes the first step.
2+The urgent diplomatic push comes against an especially tense backdrop. Last week, Tehran presented a framework on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly for a seven-day ceasefire across all fronts—from Gaza to Lebanon and Yemen. In exchange for the ceasefire, Iran demanded the lifting of the American naval blockade on its ports, removal of sanctions on oil exports, and unfreezing of billions of dollars in frozen assets. In return, it pledged to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks.
2+But the U.S. president initially rejected the initiative outright. According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, Trump made clear that Iran is seeking a quick deal only because of the heavy economic pressure and naval blockade that are severely damaging its economy. In closed-door conversations, he even assessed that the United States might carry out military strikes inside Iran after the midterm elections.
Despite the gaps and partial deadlock, mediators are trying to bridge the disputes in New York. While Washington is conditioning relief on nuclear progress, Tehran is maintaining a hard line publicly. In an interview with NBC, Foreign Minister Araghchi made clear his country is prepared for any scenario, saying: “We are fully prepared for the resumption of war and for any aggression, even if it leads to doomsday war. At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy—the choice is in President Trump’s hands.”