Qatar-mediated talks between the US and Iran have made little progress, with neither side willing to compromise and fears of renewed fighting growing, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
According to the report, Qatar proposed a compromise linking Iran's demand for the lifting of the US naval blockade with Washington's demand for concessions on Tehran's nuclear program. Iran, however, said it would consider nuclear-related steps only after Washington agreed to return to the memorandum of understanding reached in June.
US officials initially described the talks as positive and said President Donald Trump was prepared to consider sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for concrete nuclear concessions. Several hours later, however, Trump said he had offered Iran nothing.
"It is stuck," a source told Axios, referring to the negotiations. Trump, meanwhile, said Tuesday that Iran would ultimately "give up" and reiterated that "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the negotiations Wednesday morning, saying the dispute between Tehran and Washington was not over what steps needed to be taken, but over the timing and sequencing of those measures.
Araghchi referred to Iran's proposed seven-day plan, under which the US would take a series of confidence-building measures during the first several days, after which Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations on a broader agreement would resume.
Reports of growing concern over a return to major fighting come as CNN reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Gulf partners that Iran had resumed activity at its Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.
According to the report, during Netanyahu's secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, the prime minister shared new Israeli intelligence with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan indicating that Iran was resuming progress on its nuclear program, including renewed construction at the Pickaxe Mountain site, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) south of Tehran.
CNN reported that a senior Saudi security official also attended the meeting, which included discussions on the Houthis, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.
The report comes after two Gulf diplomatic officials said Monday that senior representatives of at least two additional Gulf states that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel participated in Netanyahu's meeting in the United Arab Emirates.
