NEW DELHI / DUBAI — Senior Iranian officials, including the country’s top negotiator and foreign minister, held discussions in Doha with Qatar’s prime minister over a possible framework agreement with the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, according to an official briefed on the visit on Monday.
The talks come after statements from both Washington and Tehran that tempered expectations of an imminent breakthrough, even as diplomatic channels remain active.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in New Delhi that Washington remains committed to giving diplomacy a chance before considering alternative measures in dealing with Iran. He described what he called a “substantial” proposal involving reopening key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, alongside time-bound negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
In a separate statement posted on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing and encouraged more Arab and Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords, which seek to normalize relations with Israel. He specifically called on Saudi Arabia and Qatar to participate.
Trump also reiterated that any agreement with Iran would either be “significant” or there would be no deal.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a weekly briefing that while progress had been made on several issues, it did not indicate that an agreement was close to being signed. He added that a draft memorandum under discussion includes 14 points focused on ending hostilities and addressing maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for measures ensuring safe passage through the waterway.
According to the official briefed on the Doha discussions, the agenda focused heavily on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran’s central bank governor also joined the delegation to discuss the possible release of frozen Iranian funds as part of any final arrangement.
Baghaei said nuclear negotiations would only begin in a later phase, potentially over a 60 day period, if a broader framework agreement is reached.
Tensions over the strategic waterway remain central to the talks. The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, has seen disrupted traffic since the conflict escalated earlier this year. Iran has insisted it will not impose transit tolls, though it may charge for services such as navigation support and environmental protection under a protocol expected to be coordinated with Oman, which lies across the waterway.
Iranian state media reported that 32 vessels and five oil tankers passed through the strait in the past 24 hours with authorization from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran has maintained that vessels must coordinate passage with its forces.
Energy markets reacted to the diplomatic signals, with oil prices falling more than 4 percent to two week lows amid expectations that progress could reduce supply risks linked to the waterway.
Despite diplomatic movement, major differences remain over Iran’s nuclear program, regional conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah, and demands for sanctions relief alongside access to frozen assets abroad.
Iranian sources cited by Reuters said future phases of negotiation could involve technical solutions for Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, including dilution under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has privately acknowledged limited influence over U.S. decision making regarding the Iran conflict.
The broader conflict has caused significant regional instability, including casualties in Iran and Lebanon following military exchanges involving Israeli forces and Iran aligned groups. Tensions in the Gulf have also contributed to disruptions in global energy supplies and rising prices.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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