Trump to meet Qatar's prime minister as Iran diplomacy faces hurdles

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, at the White House on Monday, according to the US schedule. This comes amid ongoing tensions with Iran and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which are encountering significant challenges.

The White House meeting will involve Trump and Al-Thani, who is also Qatar's foreign minister. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to join the Qatari leader in a closed-door session. Qatar has served as a crucial intermediary between the United States and Iran, facilitating proposals and attempting to reconcile differences concerning Iran's nuclear program and the terms for ending the conflict.

However, progress in negotiations with Iran has reportedly stalled, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that little advancement has been made. Speaking before departing Florida for a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris, Rubio expressed that he did not foresee a near-term resolution. He emphasized that Trump favored a diplomatic solution but deemed Iran's demands as "unacceptable" and, in certain instances, "outrageous and ridiculous," adding that they are not realistic.

Trump indicated that he is highly unlikely to authorize new strikes against Iran if negotiations yield a robust agreement. Nevertheless, he cautioned that the United States has identified supplementary infrastructure targets, such as bridges, should military action be resumed.