Iranian negotiators meet Qatari mediators in Doha to discuss Gulf war
Talks follow US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying President Trump prefers a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Iranian negotiators held discussions with Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday to explore ways to end the war in the Gulf, according to Business Standard. The talks followed more than 12 hours of discussions between Iranian and Qatari envoys in Tehran on Friday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump has not made a decision regarding new strikes against Iran, though he would prefer a diplomatic solution. Rubio, speaking in Atlanta, noted that direct and indirect contacts with Iran are ongoing.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on Saturday ordering armed forces to prepare for any attacks. Khamenei stated that any threat must be met with an immediate and geographically unrestricted response. The Iranian military later said it was taking steps to increase readiness.
Security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran is debating whether to lift its ban on nuclear weapons if hostilities resume, though no decision has been made. He added that talks on the nuclear programme cannot happen unless Washington accepts Iranian demands.
A source briefed on the negotiations said Qataris brought a seven-day proposal to Tehran a week ago to build trust. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that Tehran did not find the proposal satisfactory. Iran has been proposing its own seven-day plan since September, which involves lifting a blockade of Iranian ports and unfreezing assets.
