Qatar says US-Iran mediation efforts ongoing, draft agreement under discussion
Doha, Aug 4
Qatar confirmed on Tuesday that mediation efforts between the United States and Iran remain underway, with draft language for a possible agreement continuing to be exchanged between the two sides as regional mediators work to prevent further escalation.
"We can confirm that the efforts are still ongoing with all the parties," said Majed Al Ansari, adviser to Qatar's prime minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a weekly press briefing, Xinhua News Agency reported.
"We are looking towards diplomatic resolution as we are speaking right now," Al Ansari said, noting that the talks had reached "very progressive stages."
The official said Qatar and Oman were coordinating closely to facilitate indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.
Asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Al Ansari said Qatar's immediate priority was "avoiding escalation, reopening the strait and reopening the door for diplomacy between the parties."
"What we do not want to see right now is a major escalation in our region," he added, stressing that mediators were working toward a short-term diplomatic solution that would help restart negotiations.
Al Ansari noted there were no direct talks scheduled between the United States and Iran but expressed hope that mediation efforts would soon lead to the resumption of negotiations.
"Right now we don't have anything on the books when it comes to direct talks," he said. "But we are hopeful that if we can get a resumption of the talks anytime soon, we'd be able to push forward towards a major deal."
On the possibility of reaching an agreement, Al Ansari said no timeline could be set.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that talks with Iran are "going on right now," adding that "this is a last chance."
"We're talking, and we're talking at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE and backed by Qatar in particular, but others also," Trump told reporters at the White House Oval Office after signing an executive order on military spouses.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's good to see the Gulf nations stepping up as mediators. With 8-9 million Indians living and working in the Gulf region, any escalation in this area is a major concern for us. My brother works in Dubai and the region has been on edge for months now. The whole world is tired of these conflicts - we need long-term solutions, not just temporary patches. India should also play a more active role in these negotiations since we have so much at stake.
Trump saying "last chance" while also saying "talks are going on right now" - classic American double-speak. The US sanctions have been strangling Iran's economy for years, and now they want to play the victim card? As an observer, I feel India needs to stay neutral and focus on protecting its own interests - our energy security and the safety of our diaspora should be the top priority, not picking sides in someone else's power play. 🤔
This is encouraging news! Qatari diplomacy has been quite effective in the region - they managed to host the Afghan peace talks, and now this. As an Indian, I really hope they succeed because any conflict in the Gulf leads to higher crude prices, which then affects everything - from our LPG cylinder prices to the cost of vegetables in the mandi. Even the stock market doesn't like these tensions. Peace in the Gulf is peace for India's economy! 👍
I'm a retired banker and I've watched these US-Iran tensions fluctuate for over 40 years now. Every few years it's the same story - threats, sanctions, then negotiation talks. The US talks about wanting peace but their policies have been erratic at best. Iran's nuclear program is just the tip of the iceberg; the real issue is about who controls the region's resources. India should focus on diversifying its energy imports and strengthening ties with both sides. Peace is always good, but self-reliance is better.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.