Talks mediated by Qatar are ongoing in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday, aiming to reach an agreement paving the way for the resumption of direct negotiations between the United States and Iran, and to prevent the outbreak of a new war between the two countries, according to Axios.
The US website reported on Saturday, citing diplomatic sources, that Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran on Friday that lasted more than 12 hours, in an attempt to reach an understanding between Washington and Tehran before the US midterm congressional elections.
A diplomatic source said that Qatari mediators were in regular contact with the White House during Friday's talks. He added: "Positive progress has been made, and talks are still ongoing in an attempt to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran."
According to the website, Qatar is seeking to persuade both sides to agree on reciprocal steps to be implemented within days, paving the way for the resumption of direct negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and other issues.
A US official was quoted as saying that the talks face two main obstacles. The first is the insistence of President Donald Trump's administration that Iran make nuclear concessions as a condition for resuming negotiations. The second is Tehran's demand for the lifting of the US naval blockade first, the release of its frozen funds, and permission for it to sell oil.
In an attempt to overcome differences, Qatari mediators are seeking to persuade Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities that were bombed, considering this a confidence-building step, in exchange for the United States easing some sanctions.
These diplomatic moves come amid fears of an imminent US military operation against Iran, which could lead to a Tehran response targeting Israel and Gulf states, according to the website.
Axios pointed to differences within the Trump administration regarding how to deal with Iran, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubt the possibility of reaching a nuclear agreement with Tehran and prefer to exert more military pressure on it.
In contrast, Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner support resuming negotiations, while Trump doubts Iran's willingness to agree to a deal he deems acceptable.
The website quoted a regional source as saying that countries including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia are urging Iran to resume negotiations before the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
Saudi and Turkish leaders have also urged Trump in recent days to give diplomatic efforts more time, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a joint military operation against Iran immediately after the elections, according to Axios.
The report warned that the resumption of war could cause widespread destruction in Iran and Gulf states, and exacerbate the global energy crisis, amid Iranian threats to target oil and gas facilities in the region in response to any US strikes on its energy infrastructure.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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