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Qatar says Iran-US talks require ‘more time’ to succeed
Qatar said on Tuesday that US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, required more time to reach a deal, a day after President Donald Trump said he had postponed planned attacks to give the process a chance.
"We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do believe it needs more time," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference.
Trump, who had indefinitely extended the truce and made clear he wanted to exit a war that has proved to be politically damaging, said on Monday he had prepared a new military attack for the following day after Iran rejected his outlines of a deal.
But on Monday, Trump said on social media that he had suspended the attack after the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked him to give negotiations a chance.
"We want to protect the people of the region from being basically the main losers of any escalation in the region," al-Ansari said.
Since the ceasefire took hold on April 8, Tehran and Washington have held a single round of talks which failed to culminate in a deal.
However, the two sides have been exchanging proposals to resolve disagreements and end the war in the region.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that the US has sent a set of "revised" points and considerations to Iran through mediator Pakistan despite publicly rejecting Tehran's 14-point peace proposal.
"After Iran sent its 14-point plan, the US side conveyed its considerations. We also presented our considerations in return. Although the American side publicly announced that this plan was rejected, we received from the Pakistani mediator a set of revised points and considerations from their point of view," Esmaeil Baqaei said during his weekly press conference.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday that Tehran’s latest peace proposal to the US involves ending hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, the exit of US forces from areas close to Iran, and reparations for destruction caused by the US-Israeli war.
He added that Tehran also sought the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen funds and an end to the US marine blockade on the country.
Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned resumption of attacks on Iran after Teheran sent a new peace proposal to Washington, and that there was now a “very good chance” of reaching a deal.
Speaking to reporters later on Monday, he said the United States would be satisfied if it could reach an agreement with Iran that prevented Tehran from what he claimed was obtaining a nuclear weapon.