Qatari Delegation Holds Nuclear Talks In Iran

Anadolu Agency has reported that a Qatari delegation has visited Iran in a bid to mediate between Washington and Tehran on nuclear issues.

• The Qatari delegation, led by Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi held a series of meetings with senior Iranian officials, including lead nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani.
• Anadolu: "...the Qatari minister and Bagheri discussed the latest developments in Doha-mediated efforts to revive [nuclear] talks that have been stalled since last August."
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN yesterday: "We’re now in a place where we’re not talking about a nuclear agreement.... they need to take actions to de-escalate... if they do that. Maybe we’ll have an environment where we can get back into a conversation about their nuclear program."
• Blinken continued: "Right now we’re not in it, but of course, we’re not standing around doing nothing. We are continuing to work out... every possible option for dealing with the problem if it asserts itself."
• Iran returning to the JCPOA, and Iranian oil hitting markets, is remote in the near/medium term. Market focus is on whether Qatari-moderated talks can nudge the two parties back to the negotiating table.