Qatari Mediators Return to Tehran After Peace Proposals Called Unacceptable
Key Facts
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, as differences over the terms for starting negotiations remained. A person familiar with the matter said the mediation talks were coordinated with Washington, after Qatar presented Iran with a draft peace plan on Sunday. A senior Iranian official described the proposals as "unacceptable" and said Tehran would hold firm to its nuclear position. The report does not say Iran formally rejected an official draft in an announced decision; it conveys the official's position on the proposals. The mediators' return comes as messages and proposals continue to pass between the two sides through the Qatari channel.
The sticking point centers on the order of issues to be included in negotiations. Washington wants the nuclear issue on the agenda from the start of talks, while Tehran is demanding that the United States end its blockade of ports and lift sanctions on oil exports first. Iran is thus tying the start of nuclear negotiations to U.S. steps concerning the ports and its oil exports. The dispute indicates the two sides have yet to agree on a shared agenda for the talks. The proposals in circulation also show a further gap over the fate of Iran's uranium stockpile and frozen Iranian funds.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was in close contact with mediators to review ideas that could help implement its own seven-day proposal to end the war in the Middle East. The statement puts Iran's proposal at the heart of ongoing mediation contacts, alongside Qatar's draft presented on Sunday. The report provided no further details on how the proposal would be implemented or how far it aligns with Washington's position. Qatar's Foreign Ministry said messages, proposals and views were still passing between Washington and Tehran through the mediation channel. It added that the efforts were aimed at paving the way for an early diplomatic settlement.
Qatar is leading mediation efforts with support from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey. Qatari negotiator Ali Al-Thawadi visited Tehran earlier in the week for talks with Iranian officials. Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey also met Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday in an effort to prevent a resumption of fighting. The four countries agreed to continue talks on expanding cooperation, particularly on regional peace and security. No date or location was specified for the next meeting.
The current efforts build on an earlier track that quickly stalled. Pakistan and Qatar helped secure an agreement in June aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and beginning broader negotiations on the nuclear program. But the agreement quickly collapsed as attacks resumed. In a statement issued on 27 October, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said Iran must stop threatening countries in the region and ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Doha called for positive statements to be translated into practical steps and said the aim of mediation was to reach a lasting agreement that addresses the crisis and protects international navigation.
The mediation coincides with U.S. moves and indirect contacts between the two sides. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Vice President JD Vance's move toward Iran concerned medical supplies, after U.S. media reports linked it to efforts to resume peace talks. Tehran acknowledged on Thursday receiving a message from Vance to Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, but said it had not responded and did not disclose its contents. On the same day, the head of U.S. Central Command briefed Trump on the state of the war and the naval blockade, according to U.S. officials. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Washington and Tehran were "very close" to reaching a truce, while acknowledging that a comprehensive solution would not come immediately.
The prospect of escalation remains in the background of the contacts. U.S. and Israeli officials said any expected military operation after the midterm elections could involve weeks of extensive strikes on Iran's leadership, energy sector, nuclear facilities and infrastructure. On 30 October, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three oil tankers had exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, one carrying more than 2 million barrels; the Associated Press said it could not verify those claims. In markets, the December Brent contract rose 2% to $117.14 a barrel on 30 October, with oil heading for a fourth monthly gain. Reuters linked the market movement to traders' concern about war-related supply risks.