Iran and Qatar Continue Talks as US Terms Remain Divided

Iranian and Qatari envoys held talks in Doha on Saturday as Qatar continued efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington, with the sides still divided over the terms for resuming negotiations and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A source briefed on the discussions said the Doha meeting followed more than 12 hours of talks between Iranian and Qatari envoys in Tehran on Friday. Qatar was maintaining regular contact with Washington during the discussions, the source said. The talks were aimed at finding a way out of the conflict and avoiding renewed fighting, but no agreement was reported. Qatar has proposed a seven-day plan in which Iran and the United States would take daily confidence-building steps before broader peace talks. A senior Iranian official said Tehran did not consider that proposal satisfactory. Iran has advanced its own seven-day plan, which calls for Washington to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze Iranian assets and approve an Iranian-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz before the waterway is reopened. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was studying a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Araghchi described Iran’s proposal...