Iranian senior officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, have arrived in Qatar for high-level discussions aimed at exploring a potential agreement with the United States to end the ongoing three-month conflict and address the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The visit marks the first major trip by top Iranian officials to the region since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, which has seen exchanges of drones and missile strikes across multiple Gulf states, including Qatar.
Qatar’s growing diplomatic role in the negotiations was highlighted as it hosts talks that were previously largely mediated by Pakistan, signalling a possible shift in mediation efforts.
According to reports, the discussions are expected to focus on key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme, and the possible unfreezing of Iranian funds held abroad.
The Iranian delegation is also scheduled to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as part of efforts to assess progress in diplomatic negotiations and determine Washington’s commitment to a possible deal.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington is still prioritising diplomacy but warned that other options remain on the table if negotiations fail, stressing the importance of securing agreement on nuclear-related issues and regional maritime stability.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on the ongoing talks, stating that discussions with Iran were progressing positively but warning that failure to reach an agreement could trigger renewed conflict.
Iranian officials, however, emphasised that while some progress has been made through mediation efforts, particularly involving Pakistan, no final agreement is imminent.
The talks also reportedly include discussions on the possible unlocking of Iranian assets frozen in foreign banks and broader regional security arrangements, including maritime movement through strategic waterways.
