President Joe Biden's top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, recently engaged in discussions with senior Qatari leaders in Doha regarding ongoing efforts to finalize a cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. The talks also touched upon the Qatari prime minister's meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian following his visit to Tehran on Monday.
As cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue, discussions have shifted to Doha this week after previous rounds in Cairo failed to reach a final agreement. Lower-level talks are set to resume in Doha on Wednesday, with an Israeli delegation also expected to participate.
Tensions between Israel and Iran, along with Iran-backed militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, have been escalating. Iran has threatened retaliation against Israel for the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed willingness to renew negotiations with the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. This development follows the Qatari prime minister's meeting with Iran's new president and previous indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. mediated by Oman and Qatar.
President Biden had previously urged Iran to comply with the 2015 nuclear deal, which was abandoned by former President Donald Trump in 2018. Since the deal's collapse, Iran has increased uranium enrichment levels, prompting the U.S. administration to pause efforts to revive the agreement.
Iran's new president, Pezeshkian, succeeded the late President Ebrahim Raisi and is aligned with former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who played a key role in the 2015 nuclear deal.
