Indirect talks in Doha entered their third day on Sunday as Qatar attempts to negotiate the release of more than $6bn in Iranian assets.
These discussions follow an incident on Friday where unidentified missiles struck a Qatari LNG tanker bound for Pakistan near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had provided the ship with direct clearance and safe-passage approval only hours before the attack occurred.
UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said that another round of escalation was not in the interests of Iran or any of its neighbours.
Gargash added, “Relations with Iran are essential, because Iran is our neighbour and we do not want to see it get caught up in a prolonged crisis.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed hope that the United States would choose “diplomacy over other paths.”
Araghchi said Iran was prepared for both defence and diplomacy, depending on the “rationality” of Washington. Araghchi is scheduled to travel to Turkmenistan on Monday.
Donald Trump claimed the United States had knocked out much of Iran’s military but still had to “take care of” one or two targets.
Trump stated that negotiations with Iran to end the war, which he said was started by the US and Israel in February, were “going fine but you know they’re not very reliable.” Marco Rubio said the United States was open to a diplomatic solution.
Mohsen Rezaei disclosed that he received a letter from US Vice-President JD Vance seeking to revive talks.
Rezaei noted what he described as a positive change in “tone” from the US side but said he had yet to respond.
Rezaei said, “Today, wherever Trump goes, he must answer why he started the war against Iran. There is no family in America that has not endured the pressure caused by the war in Iran.”
Ali Nikzad stated, “Our enemies must understand that the Iranian nation has made a decision not to negotiate on the nuclear issue under any circumstances or under any pressure.”
