President Trump envoy Jared Kushner and Vice President Vance participated in negotiations this week with Iran mediated by Qatari mediator Ali al-Thawadi, in the foreground. (Photo by Nathan Howard-Pool/Getty Images)
US-Iran talks yield little, raising odds of renewed war: Axios
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Qatari-led diplomacy between Washington and Tehran has stalled due to unyielding positions on both sides.
- The diplomatic deadlock increases expectations of renewed military conflict following the US midterms.
- Iran refuses nuclear discussions until the US restores the June MoU, while the US demands nuclear steps before lifting its naval blockade.
- Trump publicly rejected concessions, while Iranian officials claimed he is stuck in a self-made quagmire.
Diplomatic efforts led by Qatari mediators to secure a breakthrough between the United States and Iran have stalled, increasing expectations on both sides that a return to major military conflict is growing more likely, Axios reported.
According to three sources familiar with the negotiations cited by Axios, neither side has shown a willingness to budge, leaving Qatari officials increasingly frustrated despite ongoing mediation efforts.
US officials believe US President Donald Trump could order a return to major combat operations following the upcoming midterm elections, Axios noted.
Failure to produce movement
The latest diplomatic push began Monday when Qatari mediator Ali al-Thawadi met in New York for several hours with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his team to review a two-page Qatari compromise proposal.
The plan sought to bridge the primary divide by addressing Tehran's demand for the lifting of the US naval blockade alongside Washington's demands for Iranian nuclear concessions.
On Monday evening, al-Thawadi traveled to Washington for talks with Trump envoy Jared Kushner and other US officials, a meeting briefly attended by US Vice President JD Vance.
The White House declined to comment on the sessions, Axios reported.
Despite brief morning optimism inside the White House -where officials previously told media outlets, including Axios, that talks were "positive and constructive" and that Trump was open to sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear steps- US President Trump publicly rejected the notion of concessions on Truth Social that evening, stating he offered "nothing" to Iran.
A source familiar with the talks told Axios that no significant movement occurred on Monday.
"It is stuck. The Iranians are asking for things the US can't accept and the US thinks it is winning so there is no need for compromise," the source stated to Axios.
Other regional mediators, including Pakistan and Egypt, urged Tehran to accept nuclear concessions.
However, Iranian officials insisted they would only consider such steps after the US agrees to return to the mid-June memorandum of understanding.
Sharp rhetoric amid impasse
Addressing the stalemate, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated Tuesday that Iran had conveyed its terms to Washington but claimed US President Trump is unable to reach a decision.
"Trump is trapped in a quagmire in which he can neither negotiate nor fight," Rezaei stated, according to Iranian press reports cited by Axios.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, US President Trump expressed confidence that economic and military pressure would ultimately force Iranian compliance.
"They are doing very poorly. I don't know if they are ready to give up yet. They will give up. This is to stop a nuclear weapon. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters.
