NEW YORK: Officials expect Qatari mediators to hold separate talks with the United States and Iran as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the conflict.
An official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that mediators were likely to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US side on Monday or Tuesday.
Officials expect the discussions to centre on an amended version of Iran’s seven-day proposal. Tehran presented the plan last week during the United Nations General Assembly.
Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency said Araghchi would meet the mediators on Monday morning, New York time. However, officials did not identify the US representative.
Read: Iran Says It Is Ready for ‘Doomsday’ War With US
Iran’s proposal calls for an end to hostilities in Iran and Lebanon. It also seeks the unfreezing of Iranian assets, an end to sanctions on Iranian oil and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
In return, Tehran would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States would also resume.
Read: Iran Holds Firm on Hormuz Plan After Trump Rejects Offer
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal. However, he told Axios on Sunday that he expected further negotiations during the week.
Araghchi said mediators had not formally informed Tehran of a US rejection. Iran was therefore waiting for Washington’s definitive position before deciding its next steps.
Read: Trump Rejects Iran Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
He said Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz only if its demands were met. Officials expect Qatari mediators to hold separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US side as efforts continue to end the conflict.
