Qatar Facilitates Talks Between Iran and United States Amid Election Tensions
Qatari mediators spent more than a dozen hours in Tehran urging Iran and the United States to take confidence-building steps, while U.S. officials consider the impact of upcoming midterm elections on policy.
Qatari envoys held a marathon 12-hour session with Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday, aiming to revive direct negotiations between the United States and Iran and to avert a resurgence of military actions. The mediators are urging both sides to adopt short-term measures, such as permitting United Nations inspectors to access nuclear facilities that were damaged in recent strikes, which could pave the way for a possible easing of sanctions.
A U.S. official said that progress has stalled because each side maintains pre-conditions: Washington requires nuclear concessions before further talks, while Tehran seeks the lifting of the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen assets and broader sanction relief before addressing its nuclear program.
"Talks are still ongoing in an effort to unlock a deal between the US and Iran," a diplomatic source told Axios, adding that Qatari mediators were in contact with the White House throughout the Friday discussions and that "there was positive progress."
The parties plan to reconvene in Doha on Saturday. The talks occur as Washington weighs the option of renewed strikes against Iran ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, a period during which several regional countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have urged Iran to stay at the negotiating table.
"If he feels embarrassed or disenfranchised, he will do something bold. That's what everyone is telling the Iranians. Their best shot to get a deal is right now," a U.S. official said, referring to President Donald Trump.