EXCLUSIVE
Qatar’s foreign minister calls for a reduction in tensions with Tehran, a dialogue between Iran and the GCC nations.
Qatar is calling on the United States and Iran to have “positive” talks, as negotiators will begin a fourth and potentially decisive round of indirect talks to try to reactivate Iran’s nuclear deal.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar urges a reduction in tensions between Washington and Tehran, as diplomats from the two sides meet separately in Vienna on Friday with European, Russian and Chinese representatives. to find a way to reactivate Iran’s nuclear deal.
“We have strategic and strong relations with Washington and we have good relations with Tehran and we do not want to increase the tension, which will negatively reflect Qatar and the region,” Foreign Minister Al Thani said.
“There are ongoing calls with the United States and Iran and it encourages them to engage in discussions in a positive way,” Al Thani told Al Jazeera in an interview.
In Washington, a senior U.S. State Department official said Thursday one an agreement could be reached In a few weeks, Washington and Tehran will resume compliance with Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal if Iran makes a political decision to do so.
“Is it possible that we will see a mutual return to compliance in the coming weeks or an understanding of mutual compliance? It is possible, yes,” the officer told reporters on condition of anonymity during a telephone session.
In 2015, the UN-backed agreement pledged Iran to reduce its nuclear program and refrain from developing fissile material for a nuclear weapon in exchange for relief from the economic sanction.
Former President Donald Trump he abandoned the deal in 2018 and reinstated U.S. sanctions, even though Iran had been complying with the terms of the agreement.
About a year later, Iran began moves to enrich uranium using more sophisticated centrifuges that raised alarms among its Arab neighbors.
“There are reciprocal fears between the GCC countries and Iran and a direct dialogue is needed to address these fears,” said Al Thani, who led a high-level delegation in Tehran in February to discuss the nuclear deal and tensions between Iran and Arab rivals.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran warned last month that a proposal by the Gulf Cooperation Council for its concerns about Iran’s nuclear program to be addressed in any revived version of the 2015 agreement will derail talks in Vienna.
“Their goal in making these statements is not to ask for participation, but to interrupt the process of technical talks in Vienna,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had said.
Saudi Arabia had opposed Iran’s nuclear deal and in 2017 severed ties with Qatar, which enjoys good relations with Tehran, and tried to impose a blockade.
In January, Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states announced an end to actions against Qatar. Saudi Arabia and Iran recently held talks in Iraq in a diplomatic effort to open channels and reduce hostilities.
