A delegation from Qatar has arrived in Tehran as Doha mediates a last-ditch effort to secure a peace deal that ends the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump convened his top national security officials to weigh possible military scenarios if the ongoing talks collapse.
Qatar Re-engagement
A Qatari negotiating team landed in Tehran on Friday in coordination with the US to help secure a deal with Iran as Doha returns as a trusted backchannel for communications between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar has refrained from playing a mediation role in the Iran war after Iranian attacks targeted civilian infrastructure and a key LNG production facility.
“A Qatari negotiation team is in Tehran on Friday,” an informed source told Reuters, adding that the team aims to help “reach a final deal that would end the war and address outstanding issues with Iran.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei confirmed the news on Friday, saying that a Qatari delegation held talks with Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi to support mediation efforts, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Araghchi also held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday evening to discuss the latest developments.
Pakistani Mediation
In an eleventh-hour attempt to bridge the gaps and prevent further escalation, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir held extended talks with Araghchi in Tehran on Friday night. Both officials exchanged views on the ongoing diplomatic efforts and initiatives, and explored ways to strengthen peace, stability, and security in West Asia, IRNA said.
Munir’s visit is part of Islamabad’s ongoing mediation efforts, the Pakistani army noted in a statement. It is his second visit to Tehran in a month amid mediation efforts to end the war. It also coincided with a visit by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsen Naqvi.
Although other regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, have been involved in mediation, according to Axios, Washington and Tehran maintain that Pakistan is the official mediator.
Islamabad has played a pivotal role in de-escalating tensions, helping to secure a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran in early April and hosting high-stakes talks between both sides.
“These days, some countries are trying to use their best efforts to help end the war and prevent the escalation of tensions, which is also valuable in our opinion, but our official mediator is Pakistan,” Baghaei said.
The Pakistani Army Chief is expected to meet with Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a pivotal actor in Iranian decision-making, reported Axios, citing two US officials.
Significant Gaps
Despite Pakistan’s extensive efforts to secure a peace deal, wide gaps remain over a number of issues, most notably Iran’s nuclear program and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Mediators aim to secure a letter of intent that ends the current conflict and sets a 30-day timeline to negotiate a broader deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
A US official briefed on the talks described negotiations as “agonizing,” adding that drafts are “going back and forth every day” without much progress.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted “slight progress” in talks. “I don’t want to exaggerate it, but there’s been a little bit of movement, and that’s good,” he told reporters on Friday, stressing that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or impose tolls in Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said that “the current process and the presence of senior Pakistani officials in Tehran mean that we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation.”
However, he pointed to “deep and significant” gaps between Iran and the US. “We cannot necessarily say that we have reached a point where an agreement is close,” he said.
According to Baghaei, the current negotiations focus on ending the war on all fronts and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz while the nuclear issue is not on the table at this stage.
Military Scenarios
As the deal remains elusive, Trump is considering renewing strikes on Iran. The US President met with his top national security advisors on Friday to review military options regarding Iran, reported Axios and CNN citing US sources.
Senior officials who attended the meeting included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, among others.
During the meeting, Trump was briefed on the status of the negotiations and the different scenarios if talks collapse. Sources said that Trump is actively weighing renewed military action against Iran unless negotiators secure a last-minute breakthrough.
Amid frustration over the pace of talks, the US President has raised the possibility of a final “decisive” major military operation, after which he could declare victory and end the war, one source said.
Shortly after the meeting, the White House announced a change in Trump’s schedule for the weekend, saying he will return to Washington.
Trump also wrote on Truth Social that he will not attend his son’s wedding in the Bahamas due to “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America.” He added that it is important to remain at the White House “during this important period of time.”
