Doha says US and Iran are reviewing Qatar's mediation proposals

Qatar said on Tuesday that the United States and Iran are reviewing proposals presented by Doha to ease tensions between them. Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks at the ministry's weekly media briefing, Qatar Tribune reported.

Voice of Emirates and The Express Tribune carried the same account. Qatar Tribune reported that Al Ansari said Qatar was not seeking to predict the outcome of any mediation initiative, and that the decision remained with the parties concerned. It also reported that he confirmed Qatari-Pakistani mediation continues as a diplomatic option.

According to Qatar Tribune, Al Ansari warned that any further escalation between Iran and the United States would pose a danger to the peoples of the region and would affect the negotiations.

What we know

• Qatar Tribune reported that Al Ansari said both sides were reviewing the ideas and proposals put forward by Qatar, and that Qatari negotiators were engaged in the exchange of proposals.
• Voice of Emirates reported that the Qatari mediation team travelled to Tehran on Monday evening and has returned to Doha, and that Al Ansari said the return does not signify an end to communications.
• The Express Tribune, citing Reuters and Al-Arabiya, quoted Al Ansari as telling reporters: “Both parties remain committed to the negotiation process; as we mentioned, we are facilitating the real-time exchange of proposals between them”.
• Voice of Emirates quoted Al Ansari as saying “We remain hopeful that an opportunity will arise to reach an agreement that paves the way for more comprehensive future negotiations”, while The Express Tribune quoted him as saying “We remain hopeful that there is still a chance for a deal to set the environment for future negotiations”.
• Qatar Tribune reported that Al Ansari said there was agreement among Gulf countries on the need to spare the region further escalation, and Voice of Emirates reported that he described a complete consensus among regional countries and Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
• The Express Tribune reported that a senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said Iran and the United States remain far from a deal to end the war.

What we don't know yet

• The content of the proposals: none of the three reports sets out what Qatar has put forward, and Qatar Tribune says Al Ansari did not predict the outcome.
• Whether a deal is close: Al Ansari voiced hope for an agreement, while the Iranian official quoted by The Express Tribune said Tehran's conditions must be met if the US wants Hormuz reopened and that nuclear talks could only start after they are fulfilled.
• How overnight US strikes on Iran's Qeshm island bear on the talks: The Express Tribune reported that a US official said they targeted surface-to-air missiles and that another official said they appeared limited and did not signal a resumption of major combat operations, while JFeed reported that American and Israeli officials expect a bombing campaign against Iran if the mediation fails.
• The Express Tribune also reported that three tankers struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but this is the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy's account as quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, and the report carries no independent confirmation.