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Iran’s top diplomat and chief negotiator held talks with Qatar’s prime minister on Monday to discuss a potential deal with the United States aimed at ending the three-month-old war.
The high-level meeting came shortly after both Washington and Tehran downplayed expectations for an immediate breakthrough in the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in New Delhi that Washington intends to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before contemplating alternative measures.
Rubio noted that a solid framework is currently under consideration, which includes reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and initiating time-limited negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked online that the discussions were progressing well but issued a warning of potential fresh strikes if they fail, asserting it must be a “great deal” or no deal at all.
Trump also pressed additional Arab and Muslim nations, explicitly naming Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to immediately join the Abraham Accords to normalise diplomatic ties with Israel.
Tehran confirmed that while consensus has been reached on numerous topics, a final agreement is not yet imminent.
Iranian officials stated that the proposed 14-point memorandum focuses primarily on halting the war and lifting the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for guaranteed safe maritime transit.
Detailed negotiations over Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile and frozen financial assets would follow during a subsequent 60-day window if this initial framework is approved.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, causing global oil prices to spike and driving up international fuel and food costs.
The fall in crude prices, more than 4 per cent on Monday, was based on renewed diplomatic optimism, but the hurdles remain significant, including disagreements over the conflicts of regional militias, Western sanctions and the scope of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
