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Qatari mediators failed to make significant progress this week in negotiations between the United States and Iran, with neither side showing a willingness to compromise, according to three sources familiar with the talks cited by Axios. The deadlock is increasing concerns that the military conflict between Washington and Tehran could resume.
U.S. officials believe President Donald Trump could consider ordering a return to major combat operations after the midterm elections, while Qatari officials are continuing their efforts to find a diplomatic solution. Two sources said Qatari officials were becoming increasingly frustrated with both sides.
On Monday in New York, Qatari mediator Ali al-Thawadi held several hours of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and members of his delegation. According to a source familiar with the discussions, they reviewed a two-page Qatari compromise proposal.
Two other sources said the proposal was designed to address Iran's demand for the United States to lift its maritime blockade while also taking into account Washington's demand for Iranian concessions on its nuclear program. Reuters has separately reported that reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the U.S. blockade have been central issues in discussions between the two sides.
Later on Monday, al-Thawadi met in Washington with Trump's special envoy Jared Kushner and other U.S. officials. Vice President JD Vance also attended part of the meeting, according to Axios.
Earlier that morning, White House officials had described the negotiations as constructive and said Iran had indicated that it was prepared to consider some concessions on nuclear issues. U.S. officials also said Trump was considering possible sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for specific steps to reduce Tehran's nuclear program. Trump later denied that he had made Iran any such offer. Reuters reported that Trump publicly rejected reports that he was prepared to ease sanctions in exchange for nuclear concessions.
“The talks have reached a deadlock. The Iranians are making demands the United States cannot accept, while the United States believes it is winning and therefore sees no need for a compromise,” one source told Axios.
Other regional mediators, including Pakistan and Egypt, have also been trying to persuade Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program. One source familiar with the discussions said Tehran would consider such a move only after Washington agrees to return to the June memorandum of understanding.
Iranian officials have said Tehran has already communicated its conditions to Washington. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, argued that the Trump administration was unable to make a decisive choice between negotiations and further fighting, according to Iranian media cited by Axios.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that Iran was performing very poorly and said the objective of the campaign was to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also said he did not know whether Iran was ready to give up yet, but expressed confidence that it eventually would.
American historian and strategist Eliot Cohen has argued that the conflict around Iran is unlikely to end soon and could instead expand and intensify. Cohen has also said that a lasting peace would require a change in Iran's political system. These are his assessments, rather than an established outcome of the negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue in the conflict. Iran has previously closed the strategic waterway following U.S. strikes, disrupting shipping through one of the world's key energy routes. Reuters reported that reopening the strait has been a major focus of the latest diplomatic efforts.
The talks remain unresolved, with Washington and Tehran still divided over the terms of any potential agreement and both sides maintaining positions that have so far prevented a breakthrough.
