Washington, Nov 07: Iran is reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar aimed at addressing differences with the United States about Tehran’s nuclear programme, government officials from both West Asian countries said Friday.
The development is raising hopes that the two sides could be inching toward indirect talks on one of the thorniest issues that US President Donald Trump says must be resolved as part of any deal meant to end the more than eight-month-old war.But one of the officials stressed that Iran, at least at the moment, is unwilling to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration over its atomic activities until the US agrees to several core conditions that Iran has been demanding be part of any ceasefire agreement.
Both officials were not authorised to comment publicly on the delicate negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Iran and Qatari officials’ stepped-up engagement — and Tehran showing a glint of openness to the possibility of negotiating on its nuclear programme — comes just days after Trump’s Republican Party was dealt a stunning repudiation in Tuesday’s midterm elections in the US.Signs of hope for talks emerge after Iran war contributed to Republican lossesThe electoral setback was stoked in part by voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s execution of the conflict and elevated fuel prices, a byproduct of the war that’s affected nearly every sector of the global economy.
The White House declined to comment about the Qatar-presented proposals, but Trump noted Friday in an exchange with reporters that mediators’ discussions with Iran continue.”We are talking to Iran. We have been,” said Trump, who insists the US military remains in control of the conflict with a battered Iran.Yet, Tehran insists on several concessions from the US, which Trump has declined in the past. Among the core demands Iran says must be met before engaging in nuclear talks: ending the US blockade on Iran’s ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets, issuing compensation for war damage, and ending hostilities throughout the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.
