US and Iran 'Approaching' Agreement

Washington – Agencies: The US news agency Bloomberg revealed that the United States and Iran are nearing an agreement, with the nuclear file returning to the forefront. The agency quoted a diplomat familiar with the talks as saying that Washington and Tehran are close to achieving a potential breakthrough in efforts to end the war, with Tehran expressing readiness to discuss issues related to its nuclear program that had previously been excluded. According to the diplomat, who spoke to the agency on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, Tehran is reviewing proposals related to its nuclear activities presented by Qatar, the main mediator in the ongoing negotiations with Washington. According to the agency, any concession in this regard could lead to an important step forward in the negotiations. In this context, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a public interview at the British University of Oxford, “We will never get a perfect peace agreement, but you cannot wait for that perfect moment” at the expense of securing a good agreement, as reported by Bloomberg. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman added, “We should not listen to the voices of hardliners who want to hijack the negotiation process.” He also stated that the US administration’s intentions to find a solution remain intact even after the midterm elections. Meanwhile, the Office of International Media for the State of Qatar said that reports circulating on social media claiming that the Qatari Prime Minister had stated that the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement are “baseless and misleading.” The office, in a statement, said that the Prime Minister’s remarks “have been systematically distorted by parties benefiting from the continuation of the war and instability in our region,” pointing out that “fake accounts are broadcasting a large number of these claims in an effort to frustrate diplomatic efforts and push for further escalation, which involves a high degree of irresponsibility.” In Washington, US President Donald Trump said his administration is holding talks with representatives of Iran. He added in remarks to journalists, “We are making very good progress with Iran.” Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a phone call from Trump on Friday, during which the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them were reviewed, along with the latest developments in regional affairs, particularly the new developments in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the region. The Qatari Diwan Al Diwaniya confirmed in a statement that the Emir of Qatar emphasized during the call the importance of continuing dialogue and adopting diplomatic means to resolve differences and spare the region from further escalation, ensuring freedom of maritime navigation and security of energy supplies, according to the Qatari Diwan Al Diwaniya. For his part, Axios revealed that US Vice President JD Vance has been participating in indirect talks with Iran for two weeks in an effort to reach a new ceasefire and resume nuclear negotiations. The website reported yesterday, citing two sources familiar with the talks who did not disclose their identities, that Vance held near-daily talks with the Iranians through Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Pakistani Army Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and other mediators. US Presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also participated in this process.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Instagram that he held separate phone calls over the past 48 hours with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus, Turkey, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Iraq, and Pakistan, discussing the latest regional and international developments and the repercussions of the escalation measures taken by the United States and Israel. Araghchi emphasized “the legitimate right of his country to defend its sovereignty and the necessity of establishing regional security arrangements without interference from outside powers,” according to his statement.