By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Iran’s senior diplomats arrived in Doha on Monday for high-level talks with Qatar’s prime minister as efforts intensified to secure a possible agreement with the United States aimed at ending the three-month conflict that has shaken the Middle East and disrupted global energy markets.
The negotiations come at a critical moment, with tensions still high across the region despite growing diplomatic activity behind the scenes. Officials familiar with the discussions said the meetings are centered on reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, addressing Iran’s nuclear program, and potentially unlocking billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds held abroad.
Although optimism surrounding the talks has increased in recent days, both Washington and Tehran cautioned that a final breakthrough remains far from guaranteed.
U.S. Secretary of State , speaking during a visit to New Delhi, said the United States was committed to giving diplomacy every possible opportunity before considering stronger alternatives.
Rubio described the current proposal as a “serious framework” that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and initiate time-limited negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities. He emphasized that diplomacy remained Washington’s preferred path, though he warned that other measures remained on the table if talks collapsed.
At the same time, U.S. President struck a cautiously optimistic tone in a lengthy post on Truth Social. Trump said discussions with Iran were progressing “nicely,” but warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to renewed military action. He stressed that any agreement would need to fully satisfy American security demands or there would be “no deal at all.”
Trump also used the moment to push for broader regional normalization through the Abraham Accords, urging countries such as and to formally join the initiative established during his first term to improve ties between Arab nations and Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry attempted to temper expectations. Foreign ministry spokesperson acknowledged that progress had been made on several major issues but insisted that an agreement was not imminent. According to Baghaei, negotiators have drafted a potential memorandum containing 14 points focused primarily on ending hostilities and easing the naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the reported framework, Iran would guarantee safe passage through the strategic waterway in exchange for steps toward reducing military pressure and potentially lifting sanctions. Nuclear issues, however, would reportedly be negotiated separately over a proposed 60-day period if the initial framework is approved.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the central issue in the negotiations. The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies under normal conditions. Since the conflict escalated in late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, shipping traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically.
Before the conflict, approximately 125 to 140 vessels crossed the passage daily. Iranian state media reported that only 32 vessels and five oil tankers passed through the strait in the past 24 hours, all reportedly coordinated through Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval forces.
The disruption has triggered a global energy crisis, pushing up prices for fuel, fertilizer, transportation, and food worldwide. However, oil markets reacted positively to signs of diplomatic progress, with crude prices falling more than 4% on Monday amid hopes that tensions could ease if a deal is reached.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, several major obstacles remain unresolved. The United States continues to demand strict guarantees that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon or maintain highly enriched uranium stockpiles capable of supporting such a program. Tehran continues to deny that it has any intention of building nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear activities are peaceful.
Other contentious issues include Iran’s demand for sanctions relief, access to frozen oil revenues, and regional security disputes involving Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Adding to regional tensions, Iranian media reported Monday that the country had successfully downed what it described as a “hostile” stealth drone using a newly developed air defense system. Iranian officials portrayed the incident as evidence that foreign surveillance operations in the Persian Gulf would no longer go unanswered.
The fragile ceasefire environment has also created political pressure on leaders in both Washington and Jerusalem. Trump has faced criticism at home over rising energy prices linked to the conflict, while reports suggest Israeli Prime Minister has privately acknowledged that Israel’s ability to influence Trump’s decisions regarding Iran has weakened significantly.
For now, diplomats in Doha are attempting to prevent the crisis from escalating further. While negotiators appear closer than they have been in months, the path to a lasting agreement remains uncertain, with military tensions, nuclear disputes, and regional rivalries continuing to threaten the delicate diplomatic process.
Source Reuters
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