Iran Studies Qatari Nuclear Proposals as Emir Discusses De-escalation With Trump

The nuclear file has been the main obstacle to a negotiated end to the conflict. Washington insists that nuclear issues must be part of any preliminary negotiations, while Tehran has set conditions before it will discuss them. Any shift on that point matters well beyond diplomacy for Gulf economies, where the war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, airline schedules and energy flows.

On the same day, the office of Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said he had spoken by phone with President Donald Trump about diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. The emir's office said he stressed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomatic means to prevent further escalation.

The Bloomberg report followed a statement on Thursday by an Iranian official, who told Reuters that Tehran had sent a proposal on the nuclear file to the United States through Qatar and that Washington was reviewing it. The official said discussion of the proposal would not take place until the US meets seven Iranian demands. According to Arab News, those demands include the lifting of US sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and compensation for the war.

Trump has kept up military pressure while the mediation continues. Speaking in the Oval Office, he said he was close to deciding whether to end the war or resume hostilities. "I would prefer not to destroy what is left of the country, if possible, but I may have to do so. You will know very soon," he said, according to IBTimes.

The domestic politics of the war have also shifted since Tuesday's midterm elections. Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer have vowed to end the conflict after their party's gains, and Vice President JD Vance said in a social media post on Wednesday that the war was a major reason Republicans lost, calling for an "honest conversation" about it.

The account of a possible breakthrough rests on a single unnamed diplomat. Neither Washington nor Tehran has confirmed any change in position, and no date has been announced for a further round of talks.