Qatar says progress made toward US-Iran talks

(Reuters)

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Aug 4 – Qatar said mediators were making progress in efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war on Tuesday, although Tehran ‌has denied President Donald Trump’s assertion that talks are already under way.

Oil prices fell quickly after the comments from Qatar, with Brent crude down more than 2%, extending Monday’s steep losses on hopes that an arrangement could soon be reached to unfreeze traffic through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. But for now, the strait remained virtually shut, with another ship reportedly coming under attack while trying to cross it.

Trump said on Monday that talks with Tehran had started and Iran faced ​a “last chance” to reach a deal. Iranian officials insisted no negotiations with the United States were taking place. Iran says its only talks are with Oman about the strait, and ​that no major meetings were planned this week.

“They are going on right now,” Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event on Monday when asked ⁠about negotiations, adding that discussions were taking place at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. “This is a last chance for them (Iran) to sign a good document.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry ​spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said diplomatic contacts had reached “very progressive stages”.

Ansari said on Tuesday mediators including Qatar, Pakistan and Oman were coordinating closely to facilitate negotiations and exchange draft proposals between Washington and Tehran.

A senior ​Pakistani security official said: “A lot is happening in the background … We are talking to both sides. Our sole goal at this moment is to make both parties at least agree to start talking.”

Trump’s comments followed his weekend decision to cancel what he described as “massive attacks” on Iran, extending a pattern in which he has threatened major military action before later backing off and pointing to diplomatic contacts.