Qatar says draft US-Iran talks proposal in circulation as mediators push to ease tensions

Qatar on Tuesday said a draft proposal to revive talks between the United States and Iran was being circulated between the two sides as mediators sought a short-term path to defuse tensions, Bloomberg News reported, although it cautioned that no agreement had yet been reached.

Qatar, one of the principal mediators between Washington and Tehran, said the proposed resolution was aimed at preventing a further escalation in the conflict.

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A Qatari spokesperson said a proposed agreement "is being circulated between the parties", but stressed that a deal had not yet been finalised and declined to provide a timeline for any breakthrough.

"The focus is on finding a short-term path to avoid a further confrontation," the spokesperson said.

It was not immediately clear whether Qatar was referring to an agreement linked to efforts by Iran and Oman to facilitate more shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices edged lower following the development. Brent crude slipped to $83.64 a barrel, giving up earlier gains, and has fallen about 5% this week after US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would delay fresh military action against Iran to allow more time for diplomacy.

Trump, however, maintained pressure on Tehran, saying Iran must reach an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz as early as Tuesday or face severe military consequences.

"I want to give them every last chance before decapitation," Trump told reporters on Monday. "You'll find out today or tomorrow. I mean, they're going to go quickly, one way or the other. It's not very complex."

Also Read: Status of US-Iran talks uncertain as ship struck in Strait of Hormuz

Calling it a "last chance" for Tehran, Trump said he had called off what he described as a major attack on Iran over the weekend, an operation that would likely have involved Israel.

Diplomatic efforts appear to hinge on negotiations between Oman and Iran over restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, there has been little visible progress, with Iran maintaining that it alone has the authority to regulate maritime traffic through the strategic waterway and warning that vessels attempting to pass without its permission could be targeted.

The standoff underscores the difficulty Trump has faced in ending a conflict that began in late February and has driven up global energy prices ahead of US midterm elections in November.

Iran has repeatedly warned that any major US-Israeli military action would trigger a strong response and has said it retains the capability to strike targets across the Gulf, including in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Late on Monday, Mohsen Rezaee, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, urged Washington to "take the first step and change its behavior" by returning to the terms of an agreement reached in June.

Rezaee told Iranian state television that "US warships and bases will be in serious danger" if Trump did not lift what he described as the blockade of Iranian ports.

Bloomberg reported last week that Muscat and Tehran were discussing reopening the so-called middle passage through the Strait of Hormuz. However, according to people familiar with the matter, Iran has mined the route and it may need to be cleared before regular commercial shipping can resume.

The strategic chokepoint, through which large volumes of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other commodities move, remains largely shut. Most vessels that continue to transit the strait are either hugging Iran's northern coastline or sailing close to Omani waters.

Trump also said "there's not going to be charging" for access to the Strait of Hormuz, referring to a condition Tehran has sought to impose in any future arrangement.