Qatar said Iran and the United States are still holding negotiations over the JCPOA nuclear deal, even as Tehran says it has sent its conditions to Washington through Doha. The exchanges come as concerns rise across the region over security and energy supply.

Doha says the talks are still active

Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said at a global security forum in Doha that the Iran-US talks were continuing and that both sides were trying to make progress.

He said the limited amount of public information around the negotiations could be a sign that the diplomatic process is being handled properly. He added that secrecy matters in sensitive talks.

Al-Ansari also said Qatar would keep supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the dispute through negotiations and preventing further escalation in the region.

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Tehran sets out its conditions

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said Tehran had not abandoned diplomacy and still welcomed negotiations. He said talks should be based on equality and concrete guarantees, and that the United States should show that through its conduct.

Baghaei said Washington’s record of violating agreements and commitments was a major reason for Iran’s lack of trust. He also said US demands were the biggest obstacle to progress in the ceasefire talks.

According to Baghaei, Iran has sent its concerns and conditions to the United States through Qatar, but the US response has been insufficient.

Iran links progress to wider concessions

Baghaei said Iran’s conditions include ending the war on all fronts, restoring frozen Iranian assets and lifting the naval blockade. He said Iran had also put forward a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but said movement on that proposal would require flexibility from the United States.

He added that Gulf states should not allow their territory to be used for military action against Iran.

Baghaei also described Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent visit to Tehran as routine consultation, and said no nuclear talks were held during that trip.

He separately said the era of striking and running away was over, warning that Iran would pursue attackers and respond forcefully.

No timetable for the next round

Qatari officials did not give a date for the next stage of talks or for any possible agreement. No date was given for the next stage of talks or for any possible agreement.