Qatari mediators gave Iran a new draft deal to end the war with the US and Israel, but a senior Iranian official dismissed it. Oil prices rose after a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's largest refinery, keeping supply risks in focus.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end the war with the US and Israel, according to an official briefed on the negotiations. However, a senior Iranian official said Doha had put forward only unacceptable ideas that did not amount to an offer.
Oil climbs after Houthi strike on Ras Tanura
Oil prices rose more than 1% to more than $115 per barrel on Wednesday after a Houthi attack on Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery. The attack stoked concerns over supply risks.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi forces have launched repeated attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, opening a new front in the eight-month-old war. Saudi Arabia is a key US ally and the world's largest crude exporter.
What the Qatari draft proposes
The official briefed on the talks said the proposal sets a seven-day timeline with daily confidence-building steps for each side. Several countries would act as guarantors, and the timeline could begin early next week.
According to Reuters, the senior Iranian official said Qatar had presented "unacceptable ideas and not an offer". The Iranian official said Tehran's policy of showing no flexibility on the nuclear issue was unchanged.
Nuclear program and blockade remain sticking points
Washington wants Iran's nuclear programme included in negotiations from the outset. Iran says its conditions, including an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports and the lifting of sanctions on its oil exports, must be met first.
Earlier mediation helped produce an interim peace agreement in June, but it quickly unravelled. The official briefed on the negotiations, who is not from Iran, said Tehran was expected to respond by the end of the week.
Source: Investing.com
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