Qatar has resumed diplomatic efforts to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran, but the two sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and the blockade of Iranian ports.
TEHRAN — WEB DESK: Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday, October 30, in a renewed diplomatic effort to secure an agreement between Iran and the United States, as both sides remain divided over the terms and sequence of negotiations.
An official briefed on the discussions told Reuters that the mediation effort was being coordinated with Washington. The latest visit comes days after Qatar presented Tehran with a draft peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA also reported that a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday morning for talks with senior Iranian officials. The delegation was led by a senior adviser to Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, and was expected to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.
Qatar seeks to revive stalled negotiations
The latest diplomatic initiative follows earlier efforts by Qatar to bring Washington and Tehran closer to an agreement.
According to an official briefed on the negotiations, Qatar presented Iran with a draft peace plan on Sunday. However, a senior Iranian official subsequently rejected the proposals as unacceptable and said Tehran would not change its position on the nuclear issue.
The disagreement reflects a wider gap between the two sides over what should be addressed first in any new round of negotiations.
Washington wants Iran’s nuclear programme included from the beginning of the talks. Tehran, meanwhile, insists that the United States should first end its blockade of Iranian ports and lift sanctions affecting the country’s oil exports.
Iran reviews its own proposal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran remained in close contact with intermediaries and was examining ideas that could help implement Iran’s own seven-day proposal to end the conflict.
His remarks indicated that Iran continued to engage with diplomatic channels despite rejecting the latest Qatari proposals. However, no agreement on a new negotiating framework has been announced.
JD Vance’s reported outreach adds to diplomatic efforts
The renewed mediation effort follows reports that US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei in an attempt to revive negotiations.
Iran had received the message but had not responded at the time of the reports, according to a senior Iranian official cited by the semi-official Fars News Agency.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Vance’s outreach concerned medical supplies, following media reports linking the contact to efforts to restart peace talks.
Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention
The diplomatic efforts come after earlier negotiations between Washington and Tehran collapsed over disagreements concerning freedom and security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway is a critical route for international energy supplies and commercial shipping. Disputes over access and security in the area have complicated efforts to reach a broader settlement.
The conflict began after US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel and US positions in several Arab countries, according to reports.
No breakthrough announced
Qatar’s return to Tehran signals another attempt to keep diplomatic channels open, but the positions outlined by Washington and Tehran indicate that substantial differences remain.
No new agreement, confirmed date for direct talks or breakthrough in the negotiations had been announced in the reports available on Friday.
The next phase will depend on whether mediators can narrow disagreements over nuclear issues, sanctions, port restrictions and maritime security.
