The news outlet Axios reported that the Islamic Republic has rejected a proposal by Qatari mediators to hold a trilateral meeting involving representatives from Iran, the United States, and Qatar to resolve remaining differences in ongoing negotiations on June 9.
According to the report, Iranian and American officials have been in separate contact with Qatari mediators in Doha over the past two days. However, Qatar’s efforts to arrange a direct meeting between the parties were met with opposition from Tehran.
Citing U.S. and regional sources, Axios wrote that, alongside continued diplomatic efforts, a Qatari delegation traveled to Tehran on Wednesday to hold talks with Abbas Araghchi and other officials of the Islamic Republic in an attempt to break the deadlock in negotiations.
The report adds that Donald Trump’s order to strike Iranian military targets was not solely prompted by the downing of an American helicopter. Rather, it was the result of his growing frustration with the Islamic Republic’s delay in responding to Washington’s latest proposal.
According to a senior U.S. official, the objective of the limited U.S. strikes on Tuesday evening was to “restore leverage” in the negotiations without causing human casualties or blocking the path toward an agreement.
