Qatar warns of regional war as mediators seek a compromise in Tehran
Qatar says Iran-US talks are ongoing but warns of a spiral. A reported proposal links interest on frozen funds to IAEA visits to Iranian nuclear sites.
Archive image · Photo: U.S. Department of State / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Qatar confirmed that negotiations between Iran and the US are continuing, while warning that "escalation left unchecked will mean that we are spiraling towards a regional war", foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said, according to CBS News. Qatar and Pakistan have proposed a compromise, according to the Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, to revive the talks. Under it, Iran would receive interest on six billion dollars frozen in Qatari banks, and in return Tehran reportedly agreed to an undisclosed International Atomic Energy Agency visit to nuclear sites.
Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir held talks in Tehran, including with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. "The negotiating table is still there," Araghchi said, according to Iran International, adding that Hormuz would stay closed without a deal. According to a government readout, Pezeshkian said Washington must lift its pressure, threats and sanctions before any negotiations. After Munir left, a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran, according to Iranian state media and the Nour News agency.
Meanwhile neighbouring Iraq is keeping its distance. The Sheeb border crossing with Iran will be closed to people and goods from Wednesday until further notice, an Iraqi official said, according to Al Jazeera, with other crossings to follow gradually, Iran International reports. On the border with Pakistan, crossings remained closed, according to Iran's Fars agency, even though Munir had said in Tehran that the problems had been resolved.