United States President Donald Trump is set to host Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at the White House on Monday. The meeting will occur behind closed doors as diplomatic efforts intensify to bridge significant gaps regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the broader conflict in the region. According to an unnamed US official, Vice President JD Vance is also scheduled to participate in discussions with the Qatari leader, who serves as his country’s foreign minister and has acted as a primary mediator between Tehran and Washington. Here is a look at where diplomatic efforts stand before the meeting. Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Tehran recently submitted a new nuclear and peace proposal through Qatari intermediaries on Thursday.
This offer is contingent upon Washington addressing seven specific conditions identified by the Iranian government.
While the US is currently reviewing the submission, Iranian officials have insisted that no formal negotiations regarding their atomic activities will proceed until these requirements are met.
The demands include the lifting of sanctions imposed since the collapse of an Islamabad memorandum in June, the release of frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar, the restoration of oil waivers, and a reduction in US military presence within the Middle East.
Furthermore, Iran has called for the formal recognition of a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz—developed alongside Oman—and a complete cessation of hostilities, including Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Finally, it demanded ending the war on all fronts, including Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Tensions remain precarious as the International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran currently possesses 440.9kg (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which stands just a short technical step away from the 90 percent weapons-grade threshold. This level of enrichment expanded significantly following the 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal established under President Barack Obama, which had originally capped enrichment levels at 3.67 percent. Iran’s enrichment boost came after Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stern warning on Sunday, stating that Tehran would “rain down hell” should the US renew its strikes. This stance aligns with a plan previously announced by Iran at the United Nations General Assembly, which suggests a two-day de-escalation process: on the first day, the US would implement specific measures, and by the second day, navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would be restored to its prior state. Meanwhile, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei cautioned President Trump against resuming military action, threatening a devastating response. Calling for a regional security arrangement free from the involvement of extra-regional powers, araghchi held talks with 12 regional counterparts over 48 hours last week.
The diplomatic push comes against a backdrop of volatile military posturing. President Trump recently warned that the US has identified 38 infrastructure targets for potential strikes, including bridges, if hostilities resume. He noted that three aircraft carriers are stationed in the region, “fully locked and loaded,” and ready to execute further operations. US military assets have already engaged in limited strikes on Iranian air defenses over the past week and disabled a commercial vessel on Saturday that allegedly breached a naval blockade.
Internal US views on the prospects of a breakthrough remain divided. “I wouldn’t say we’re at the verge of a breakthrough,” he added.
While Trump expressed optimism on Friday, claiming the White House had made significant progress with Iranian representatives, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more pessimistic assessment. Speaking in Florida on Sunday, Rubio characterized current Iranian demands as “outrageous and ridiculous” and described them as unrealistic. He emphasized that the US maintains a right to defend itself against clear threats to regional shipping or American forces, while confirming that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper have been urging the President to resume larger-scale military operations. He told reporters in Florida on Sunday that while the war was unpopular, Trump “ identified a very real threat ” in Iran and had worked to stop it from pursuing a nuclear weapon. Rubio added that although the US president prefers a diplomatic solution, Iranian demands are “not just unacceptable, but in some cases, outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic”. On Thursday, Trump told reporters the US may have to “destroy” the rest of Iran, adding that people will “know soon enough” if he acts. And that it was just waiting for orders from Washington, axios quoted a US official as saying CENTCOM was preparing for the resumption of major military operations in Iran.
Adding to the hostile rhetoric, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force warned that their defensive capabilities are secured for years to come. IRGC Brigadier-General Ali Belali stated via Telegram that the armed forces are on high alert, promising that any misstep by the enemy would be met with a severe and devastating response.
