WASHINGTON — Iran is reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar aimed at addressing differences with the United States about Tehran’s nuclear program, two Middle East government officials said Friday. The development is raising hopes that the two sides could be inching toward indirect talks on one of the thorniest issues that President Donald Trump says must be resolved as part of any deal meant to end the more than eight-month-old war. But one of the officials stressed that the Iranians, at least at the moment, remain unwilling to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration over its atomic activities until the U.S. agrees to several core conditions that Iran has been demanding be part of any ceasefire agreement. Both officials were not authorized to comment publicly on the delicate negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Iran and Qatari officials’ stepped-up engagement — and Tehran showing a glint of openness to the possibility of negotiating on its nuclear program — comes just days after Trump’s Republican Party was dealt a stunning repudiation in Tuesday’s midterm elections in the U.S. Signs of hope for talks emerge after Iran war contributed to Republican losses The electoral setback — Republicans lost both chambers of Congress — was stoked in part by voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s execution of the conflict and elevated fuel prices, a byproduct of the war that’s affected nearly every sector of the global economy. The White House declined to comment about the Qatari-presented proposals, but Trump noted Friday in an exchange with reporters that mediators’ discussions with Iran continue. “We are talking to Iran. We have been,” said Trump, who insists the U.S. military remains in control of the conflict with a battered Iran. Yet, Tehran insists on several concessions from the U.S., which Trump has declined in the past. Among the core demands Iran says must be met before engaging in nuclear talks: ending the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets, issuing compensation for war damage, and ending hostilities throughout the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. Qataris and Iranians discuss a bridge deal to get to nuclear talks Mediators and Iran have discussed a potential bridge deal aimed at helping pave the way for further talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to regional officials. They said the proposal, which was recently presented to the two sides by Qatari mediators, called for implementing trust-building measures over the course of two days. These measures include lifting the U.S. blockade and releasing some of the billions of dollars in Iranian frozen funds seized over the years as part of a U.S. campaign to isolate Iran over its nuclear program. In return, Tehran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at its sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel, the officials said. On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in line with a modified agreement that Iran and Oman have reached on the waterway but has not been approved by the United States, the officials said. That mechanism would be temporary until a permanent deal is reached on the strait in cooperation with other Gulf countries, they said. Following the implementation of the measures, the U.S. and Iran would embark on extensive talks addressing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium as well as other aspects of its program, the officials said. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. Diplomatic efforts pick up following U.S. election A flurry of diplomatic phone calls in recent days between leaders in the Persian Gulf and beyond has been aimed at easing tensions in the region. Concerns have mounted over the possibility that Trump could still order the U.S. military to carry out new strikes against Iran. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Friday with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, about developments, according to the Qatari government. The Qatari government announced the call between the countries’ defence officials after confirming earlier Friday that Trump and Qatar’s emir had a separate call to discuss efforts to deescalate tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held phone calls with his Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts on Friday to discuss tensions in the region. Araghchi discussed with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Tehran’s vision for resuming negotiations with the U.S., according to Iraq’s News Agency. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who held two calls with Araghchi this week, said in a post on X on Friday that it was critical that both sides demonstrate “flexibility” to achieve the “compromise solutions” necessary to prevent the region from sliding into a new wave of escalation. Egypt’s top diplomat also held a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to emphasize the importance of political negotiations to prevent another military confrontation that could fuel violence and destruction, according to a statement by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. By Aamer Madhani And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press
