Qatari mediators hold 12 hours of talks in Tehran while staying in contact with White House over possible U.S.-Iran deal

Qatari mediators spent at least 12 hours in talks in Tehran on Friday while remaining in regular contact with the White House, as efforts intensified to broker an agreement between the United States and Iran, according to a diplomatic source cited by Axios.

“The talks are still ongoing in an effort to unlock a deal between the U.S. and Iran,” the source said.

The marathon session followed the return of Qatari negotiators to Tehran earlier Friday. Reuters separately reported that the delegation was coordinating its discussions with Washington as part of an effort to revive U.S.-Iran negotiations and prevent renewed major combat.

The two sides remain divided over the sequence and terms of any agreement. Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program addressed from the outset, while Tehran has insisted that the United States first lift its naval blockade, ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports and address other Iranian conditions.

Qatar presented Tehran with a draft proposal earlier this week, but Iranian officials have said previous terms were unacceptable and have not publicly announced acceptance of a new framework.

President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiations were underway and that Iran “wants to talk,” while adding that Washington had time and was not facing an immediate deadline.

The prolonged talks do not by themselves indicate that a breakthrough has been reached. No agreement had been announced by either Washington or Tehran as of Friday evening.