Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war, official says
USO•A senior Iranian official said Qatar had presented only unacceptable ideas to end the war, while another official said Tehran was considering a new draft proposal. Oil prices rose more than 1% to above $115 a barrel after a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery.
1. Conflicting accounts of proposal
A senior Iranian official involved in talks said Qatar had presented only “unacceptable ideas and not an offer” to end the war with the United States and Israel. An official briefed on negotiations said a new draft proposal was presented in Tehran on Sunday and was being considered, with a response expected by the end of the week.
2. Draft sets out timeline
The official briefed on the negotiations said the proposal outlines a seven-day timeline of daily confidence-building steps addressing Tehran’s and Washington’s concerns. The timeline could begin early next week, and several countries would act as guarantors. The senior Iranian official said Tehran’s policy of showing no flexibility on the nuclear issue remained unchanged.
3. Oil supply concerns
Oil prices rose more than 1% to above $115 a barrel on Wednesday after a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery, Ras Tanura. The conflict has disrupted shipping and oil supplies, and Houthi forces have launched repeated attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
