Iran reviews Qatar proposals on nuclear talks with US

Iran and the United States are examining proposals presented by Qatar, which is serving as chief mediator in efforts to address longstanding disagreements over Tehran's atomic activities, according to officials from both West Asian countries. The diplomatic overture marks a notable development amid the more than eight-month-old conflict that has complicated broader negotiations on regional stability.

The heightened engagement between Iranian and Qatari officials has sparked cautious optimism that the two adversaries may move closer to indirect talks on nuclear matters. US President Donald Trump has indicated that resolving Iran's nuclear programme is essential to any comprehensive agreement aimed at resolving the conflict.

However, Iranian officials made clear that Tehran remains unwilling to enter direct negotiations with the Trump administration on its nuclear activities without certain preconditions. Iran has outlined core demands that it insists must form part of any ceasefire agreement, officials said, and has not indicated a willingness to set aside these conditions for nuclear-focused talks.

The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive negotiations, provided their assessment on condition of anonymity. Diplomatic sources characterised the current phase as exploratory, with both sides using Qatar's intermediary role to gauge the possibility of eventual negotiations on the contested nuclear issue.