Hamad bin Jassim: Tehran's stalling in negotiations may not be in Iran's interest or that of the region as a whole - Sarmad

Former Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani stated that Iranian officials’ remarks regarding the nature of a potential agreement with the United States are contradictory, particularly concerning whether the deal would be permanent or temporary. He suggested that this discrepancy may stem from differing viewpoints among Iranian officials, though he did not believe these differences were significant or fundamental.

In a post on the X platform, bin Jassim said: “This divergence in statements may aim to confuse the landscape in a manner that serves the Iranian negotiator and prolongs the talks, which Iranians believe benefits them. However, delay could bring surprises that may not be in Iran’s interest, nor in the interest of the region as a whole. The key here is how to manage the negotiation process to prevent the situation from reaching the brink of disaster.”

He added, “I believe Iranians should reconsider this policy and work toward reaching an understanding on outstanding issues, which are fundamental to our region.”

He noted, “Reaching such an understanding could mark the beginning of new economic relations that would benefit the Iranian economy and positively impact the living conditions of the Iranian people. While I respect the intelligence of Iranian officials and am familiar with their negotiating style, which relies on patience and prolonging talks, a final and decisive decision must ultimately be made. A successful negotiator must know when to continue negotiations and when to conclude them, whether by acceptance or rejection.”