A diplomat told Axios that Qatari mediators held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran for more than 12 hours. The purpose of the talks is to get Iran and the US to agree on countermeasures that will take place over the next few days in order to prepare for direct talks between Iran and the US on issues including Iran's nuclear program. The most important obstacles to the negotiations are US demands from Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program, as well as Iranian demands from the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen funds and stop its efforts to prevent Iran from selling oil. Qatar is also trying to convince Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit nuclear facilities bombed by US-Israeli forces. Doing so could help build confidence and encourage America to lift some sanctions.

A diplomat told Axios that Qatari mediators held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran for more than 12 hours. The purpose of the talks is to get Iran and the US to agree on countermeasures that will take place over the next few days in order to prepare for direct talks between Iran and the US on issues including Iran's nuclear program. The most important obstacles to the negotiations are US demands from Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program, as well as Iranian demands from the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen funds and stop its efforts to prevent Iran from selling oil. Qatar is also trying to convince Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit nuclear facilities bombed by US-Israeli forces. Doing so could help build confidence and encourage America to lift some sanctions.