Iran Says No Breakthroughs in Peace Talks with Qatar
Iranian officials report no major progress in ongoing peace talks with Qatar, citing U.S. political stance as key barrier.
2 min read
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Monday that recent peace talks with Qatar, mediated through diplomatic channels, have not yielded any major breakthroughs. However, he emphasized that the diplomatic process remains active and ongoing.
Iran Rejects Qatari Proposal Amid U.S. Stance
Araghchi noted that the consultations, which took place over the weekend, were highly intensive. He highlighted that Iran had presented its conditions and proposals, with the outcome dependent on the political rationality of Washington. Qatari mediators had previously submitted a peace proposal to Iran, which was reportedly rejected as ‘unacceptable’ due to its demand for upfront concessions on uranium enrichment from Iran.
The weekend talks were centered around the Iranian seven-step proposal, which had been rejected by former President Donald Trump in September. This proposal, which Iran insists on, includes demands such as the lifting of U.S. sanctions and an end to the naval blockade of Iran. In exchange, Iran promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, a commitment it had previously made and then broken in June.
Trump’s Assessment and U.S. Offers
Trump had previously dismissed the Iranian proposal as a sign of desperation, noting that it offered only a meaningless concession regarding the Strait of Hormuz. In a recent development, Vice President JD Vance reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s national security council head, Mohsen Rezaei, proposing to restart direct talks. However, the letter included the same demands for concessions on uranium enrichment that Iran had previously rejected.
Rezaei, in a statement, acknowledged the letter as a ‘softer’ stance from a chastened Trump administration, but emphasized that Iran would not budge on its demands. He stated that the Strait of Hormuz would not be opened until the U.S. met Iran’s unilateral concessions.
Iran’s Stance on Nuclear Doctrine
Rezaei also hinted at the possibility of changing Iran’s position on uranium enrichment, provided it could avoid renewed hostilities with the U.S. However, he clarified that no official decision had been made at the governance level regarding a change in the nuclear doctrine. The discussion, he said, was hypothetical, focusing on whether Iran would continue its previous doctrine if war were to resume.
Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Position
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that Iranian negotiators had returned from Qatar, indicating their work was complete. He reiterated that Iran’s demands were clear and reasonable, emphasizing that no final agreement could be reached without the U.S. meeting these conditions.
Source: Breitbart
