Iran says Qatar offered no new proposal, only ‘unacceptable ideas’ as hardliners warn against distancing Tehran from Houthis

Dubai: Qatar has not offered Iran a new peace proposal to end the conflict with the United States and Israel, according to a senior Iranian official involved in the negotiations. The official stated that Qatar presented only "unacceptable ideas and not an offer", stressing Iran's unchanged position on its nuclear program. This contradicts another official's account who said Qatari mediators presented a draft peace agreement to Tehran on Sunday.

The conflicting reports surfaced as a high-level diplomatic meeting involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran revealed divisions among Iranian hardliners over the potential outcomes of the regional talks. Some hardliners welcomed the meeting, seeing it as recognition of Iran's regional influence, while others raised concerns about whether the visiting officials were aiming to weaken Iran's relationship with the Houthis.

Hardliners questioned the purpose of the meeting, with some warning that cooperation with countries involved in the Mecca defence pact could pressure Iran to distance itself from the Houthis. Former parliamentary national security committee chairman suggested Yemen was a more immediate concern for the visiting countries than Iran's confrontation with Washington.

The meeting concluded with a statement committing participants to ongoing dialogue on regional peace and security, but without announcing any specific agreements. US-Iran tensions remain high, with the US demanding Iran's nuclear program be included in negotiations, while Iran insists on the removal of the US blockade and sanctions on its oil exports.