Axios: U.S.-Iran Talks Have Reached An Impasse
- 30.09.2026, 9:23
The risk of a resumption of hostilities is increasing.
Attempts by Qatari diplomats this week to broker a breakthrough in relations between Washington and Tehran through negotiations have reached an impasse. Neither side in the conflict has shown willingness to make mutual concessions, reports Axios.
According to media reports, on Monday in New York, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Tawadi held hours-long talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation. According to a source familiar with the matter, the parties reviewed in detail a two-page compromise draft prepared by Doha.
Other informed sources note that Qatar’s initiative was aimed at reconciling the key demands of both countries: Tehran’s demand for the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and Washington’s demand for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
That same evening, al-Tawadi arrived in Washington, where he met with Trump’s special envoy Jared Kushner and other U.S. officials, who were briefly joined by Vice President Vance.
As early as that morning, the White House was hoping for a breakthrough. U.S. officials told several media outlets, including Axios, that the dialogue was “positive and constructive,” and that Tehran had allegedly “shown flexibility on nuclear issues.”
Moreover, officials assured that Trump was ready to ease sanctions pressure and unblock Iranian assets in exchange for concrete steps to roll back the nuclear program.
However, a few hours later, while the Qatari representatives were still at the White House, Trump stated on social media that he had not made any proposals to Iran.
As a result, one source noted the lack of significant progress in the negotiations on Monday:
“The situation has reached an impasse. The Iranians are demanding things the U.S. cannot agree to, and the U.S. believes it is winning, so there is no need for a compromise.”
Meanwhile, other regional mediators, notably Pakistan and Egypt, were urging Iran to agree to a nuclear compromise. However, according to another informed source, Tehran responded that it would discuss this only after the U.S. returns to the June memorandum of understanding.
According to Axios, the deadlock in the negotiations only reinforces both sides’ conviction that a resumption of military confrontation is inevitable.
U.S. officials speculate that President Trump may order the resumption of large-scale hostilities as early as after the midterm elections.
At the same time, two sources noted that Qatari diplomats will not cease their efforts to find a solution, despite growing frustration with the positions of both sides in the conflict.