US, Iran studying proposals for possible agreement, Qatar says

The United States and Iran are studying proposals to create conditions for an agreement, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in Doha on Tuesday. Mediation continues to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran amid tensions since the war launched on Feb. 28.

What proposals are the US and Iran studying?

Both governments are reviewing proposals presented as part of efforts to establish the conditions needed for an agreement, according to Qatar. Doha says both sides remain committed to negotiations, and mediators are still working to narrow differences. Qatar is coordinating with regional partners to prevent further escalation.

"Efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides of the crisis, the United States and Iran, are still ongoing," Ansari said at a news briefing carried by Doha-based Al Jazeera television, Anadolu Agency reported. He added that both sides continued to demonstrate commitment to the negotiating process.

Qatar is working closely with regional partners and the international community to end the crisis, Ansari said. He pointed to "very high-level coordination" among regional leaders to find a solution and prevent further escalation. Doha is seeking an agreement that can build confidence and strengthen peace across the region, he said.

What did Qatar say about maritime security and Israel?

Addressing maritime security, Ansari said freedom of navigation was "non-negotiable." He stressed that Qatar rejected any threats against its tankers or other vessels.

Separately, he rejected accusations by Israeli parties that Qatar was interfering in Israel's elections. Doha would not accept being made a "scapegoat," he said.

How has Iran responded to the US?

The remarks come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran following the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran has repeatedly called for an end to a U.S. naval blockade and the removal of economic sanctions as part of efforts to reach a diplomatic settlement.

Also on Tuesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who heads Tehran's negotiating team, said Iran had delivered a "firm and rational" response to Washington. He said the United States must now decide whether to prevent another war.

Ghalibaf warned that any renewed U.S. military action would prompt an "unpredictable" Iranian response without geographical limitations.