Iran President Ebrahim Raisi meets with Qatar Emir in Doha, nuclear talks in agenda

Discussions are still ongoing between Iran and the West regarding its nuclear program. The ongoing discussions were on the agenda during the meeting between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Qatar’s Emir in Doha.

This week, Raisi traveled to Doha to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani where the ongoing nuclear talks were on the agenda for the two leaders. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Raisi has urged the US to prove that it is willing to lift the sanctions in the indirect talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Guarantees are essential to reach an agreement in the nuclear talks,” said Raisi during the joint conference.

Iran has refused to directly engage with Washington since the US under Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and instead imposed sanctions. Both sides have only been engaging through the European signatories of the agreement. Iran has also insisted that its nuclear program is being used for peaceful means.

Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday that there is “significant progress” from the ongoing negotiations in Vienna, and while most of the issues have been resolved, the issues that remain appear to be the most challenging. Qatar’s emir, on the other hand, expressed that the country was prepared to do what it can to help bring a solution to the talks in Vienna.

Prior to traveling to Qatar, Raisi said that he hopes his visit would bolster relations with the Gulf Arab States, citing Iran’s status as a major oil and gas supplier and a founding member of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday that there is “a moment of truth” to determine whether the 2015 deal with Iran could be revived and that Iranian leaders have to make the decision. Scholz’s comment is similar to the statement by the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, who said that Western countries must now make the decision.

During the Munich Security Conference, Scholz said that the nuclear talks have come a long way in a span of 10 months, and “all elements for a conclusion of the negotiations are on the table.”