Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Aug 4: Qatar on Tuesday confirmed that mediation efforts between the United States and Iran are continuing, with draft proposals for a possible agreement still being exchanged as regional mediators seek to prevent further escalation.
"We can confirm that the efforts are still ongoing with all the parties," Majed Al Ansari, adviser to the Qatari Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a weekly media briefing.
"We are looking towards diplomatic resolution as we are speaking right now," he said, adding that the discussions had reached "very progressive stages."
Al Ansari said Qatar and Oman were working closely to facilitate indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.
Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, he said Qatar's immediate priority was to prevent further escalation, reopen the strategic waterway and create conditions for renewed diplomacy.
"What we do not want to see right now is a major escalation in our region," he said, adding that mediators were focused on securing a short-term diplomatic breakthrough that could pave the way for formal negotiations.
While noting that no direct talks between the United States and Iran were currently scheduled, Al Ansari expressed optimism that ongoing mediation efforts would soon help revive negotiations.
"Right now we don't have anything on the books when it comes to direct talks. But we are hopeful that if we can get a resumption of the talks anytime soon, we'd be able to push forward towards a major deal," he said.
He, however, declined to specify any timeline for reaching an agreement.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said discussions with Iran were "going on right now" and described the current efforts as "a last chance".
"We're talking, and we're talking at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE and backed by Qatar in particular, but others also," Trump told reporters at the White House after signing an executive order related to military spouses.