Diplomatic sources in the region say Qatar is offering Iran mechanisms and a more favorable schedule regarding the release of frozen funds, with the U.S. considering the proposal positively. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards insist on delinking financial issues from the imperative to strike Israel, and are demanding an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon, according to Israeli journalist Danny Zaken.
The Qatari mediation initiative aims to resolve the dispute over frozen Iranian funds as a confidence-building measure to prevent an Iranian strike on Israel. Diplomatic sources from the region, cited by veteran journalist Danny Zaken, say Qatar is offering Iran more flexible mechanisms and a timeline for releasing the funds, and the U.S. is considering the proposal favorably.
However, the Revolutionary Guards are insisting on separating the financial-track negotiations from what they view as a strategic imperative to strike Israel, and are demanding an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon as a condition for de-escalation, according to the report.
As The Zioneer reported earlier tonight, the Qatari-led push is part of a broader diplomatic sprint to seal a framework deal between Washington and Tehran, with the New York Times reporting that Qatar aims for a conclusion 'tonight.' The current report adds specificity on the financial mechanisms being discussed and the Guards' stated linkage to IDF operations in southern Lebanon. Diplomatic sources cited by Zaken say efforts are intensifying in the coming hours to reach a signature.
2 developments
- StrongQatar proposes $12 billion compromise to unlock Iranian frozen assets
- DevelopingQatari mediators en route to Tehran as US presents sweeping demands to Iran
- StrongIran says talks with US continue, including mechanism for releasing frozen funds
- StrongReport: Qatar secretly offered to halt gas production to shield its LNG facility from Iran
Source and signal
- Internal intake