Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has received Washington’s response to a seven-day plan aimed at reducing U.S.-Iran tensions, with the order of reciprocal steps now emerging as the main obstacle to an agreement.
Qatari mediators relayed the U.S. position to Araghchi and his delegation in Doha as they returned from the United States, Reuters reported on September 30, citing a non-Iranian official briefed on the contacts.
The mediators received Washington’s response on Monday. Araghchi was expected to discuss it in Tehran on Wednesday. Neither Washington nor Tehran had publicly disclosed the response’s full contents.
Dispute Focuses on Who Moves First
The document under discussion proposes seven days of confidence-building measures before the two sides return to an expanded version of a memorandum reached in June. The framework includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and taking specific steps related to Iran’s nuclear program.
The United States is seeking nuclear concessions, including access for inspectors. Iran has linked reopening the strait to the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets, according to earlier Associated Press reporting.
The latest exchange indicates that the parties remain divided less over the broad components of a possible deal than over which side must act first.
Qatar Keeps Diplomatic Channel Open
President Donald Trump had rejected Iran’s initial proposal, but Qatar continued carrying messages between Washington and Tehran. The mediation is intended to halt the conflict and restore normal commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The June memorandum produced only a brief ceasefire. The new effort seeks a revised arrangement covering both the strategic waterway and Iran’s nuclear program.
Source: Vesti Baku, with additional verification from Reuters and The Associated Press.