Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran on Friday that lasted more than 12 hours, seeking an agreement that would restart direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran and prevent a war after the US midterm elections, according to diplomatic sources cited by the newspaper An-Nahar. The talks are scheduled to continue on Saturday in Doha, according to An-Nahar.
An unnamed diplomatic source said the Qatari mediators remained in regular contact with the White House during Friday's session. The same source said, according to An-Nahar: "Positive progress has been made, and talks are still continuing in an attempt to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran."
According to An-Nahar, the Qataris are pressing Washington and Tehran to accept reciprocal steps to be carried out within a few days, in preparation for a return to direct negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and other issues. An-Nahar adds that the mediators are trying to persuade Iran to allow United Nations inspectors to visit its bombed nuclear sites as a confidence-building step, in exchange for a US easing of some sanctions.
According to a US official cited by An-Nahar, two conflicting demands have obstructed the talks. The official said the first is the Trump administration's insistence on Iranian nuclear concessions as a condition for resuming negotiations. As the official described it, the second is Tehran's demand that the naval blockade be lifted, frozen funds be released and it be allowed to sell oil.
The same US official, according to An-Nahar, spoke of a division within the administration. According to him, Defense Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of State Rubio are deeply skeptical that a nuclear agreement can be reached with the current Iranian regime, and they want to weaken it further, including through additional strikes. By contrast, Vice President Vance and envoys Witkoff and Kushner want to resume negotiations, according to the same official. He added that Trump doubts Iran will ever agree to a deal that he considers acceptable.
An-Nahar reports that Treasury Secretary Bessent, who leads an economic pressure campaign dubbed "Operation Economic Pariah," is among the aides urging Trump to let the initiative run its course rather than quickly return to military confrontation.
Trump, according to An-Nahar, said: "There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking... We have time, frankly. It's a war, but it's not a traditional war."
An-Nahar cited the Axios website as reporting that the United States is now days away from a possible military operation that would inflict severe damage on Iran and would likely prompt retaliatory responses. An-Nahar also cited Axios as reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is pressing Trump to launch an operation against Iran as soon as the midterm elections end.
Accounts differ on how the elections will affect Trump's decision. A US official said Trump may lean toward ordering a large-scale military operation if Republicans suffer a significant defeat. An-Nahar cited Axios as reporting that an unnamed US official said of Trump: "If he feels embarrassed or sidelined, he'll do something bold. That's what everyone is telling the Iranians. Their best chance to reach a deal is now." By contrast, a White House official said the election results would not affect his decisions on Iran.
The results of the round scheduled for Saturday in Doha are not yet known. It is also not yet known whether an agreement will be concluded between Washington and Tehran or what it would contain, whether Iran will accept visits by United Nations inspectors to its nuclear sites, or whether the United States will carry out a military operation and, if so, when.