TEHRAN: Qatari mediators returned to Iran on Friday to pursue a peace agreement with the United States, an official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters.
The official said Qatar had coordinated its latest mediation efforts with Washington. Qatar presented a new draft peace proposal to Tehran on Sunday, seeking to end the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
However, a senior Iranian official rejected the proposals as unacceptable and maintained Tehran’s position on its nuclear programme.
The draft outlines a seven-day timetable with daily steps intended to build confidence between Washington and Tehran. An official briefed on the negotiations indicated that several countries could guarantee the proposed arrangement.
The main dispute concerns the order of concessions. Washington wants to address nuclear issues from the start of negotiations.
Iran insists that the United States must first end its naval blockade of Iranian ports and lift sanctions on oil exports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran remained in contact with mediators over its own seven-day proposal.
He maintained that Iran was willing to pursue diplomacy while seeking terms acceptable to Tehran. Qatar and Pakistan have led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which has disrupted regional shipping and oil supplies.
Read More: Iran Peace Talks Face Dispute Over Qatar Plan, Officials Say
The latest discussions followed an earlier peace arrangement in June that failed to produce a lasting settlement. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump addressed reports about Vice President JD Vance’s outreach to Iran.
Trump said the communication concerned medical supplies, while US media reports had linked the contact to possible renewed peace talks.
