Qatar says US-Iran negotiations need ‘more time’

Qatar says US-Iran negotiations need ‘more time’

On Monday, Donald Trump said on social media that he had suspended the attack after the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him to give negotiations a chance.

This US Marine Corps handout photo released on May 12, 2026, by US Central Command Public Affairs shows US Marines with Maritime Raid Force rappelling out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, during helicopter and roping sustainment training aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli at sea on May 8, 2026. Iran's chief negotiator said on May 12 that Washington must accept Tehran's latest peace plan or face failure, after the US president warned the truce in the Middle East war was on the brink of collapse. The war, which erupted more than two months ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has spread throughout the Middle East and roiled the global economy despite the ceasefire, impacting hundreds of millions worldwide.
US Marines with the Maritime Raid Force rappel from an MH-60S Sea Hawk during training aboard the assault ship USS Tripoli, testing readiness for potential military action if diplomatic efforts fail. (AFP pic)
DOHA:
Qatar said on Tuesday that US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, required more time to reach a deal, a day after President Donald Trump said he had postponed planned attacks to give the process a chance.

“We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do believe it needs more time,” Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference.

Trump, who had indefinitely extended the truce and made clear he wanted to exit a war that has proved to be politically damaging, said on Monday he had prepared a new military attack for the following day after Iran rejected his outlines of a deal.

But on Monday, Trump said on social media that he had suspended the attack after the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked him to give negotiations a chance.

“We want to protect the people of the region from being basically the main losers of any escalation in the region,” al-Ansari said.

He would not say whether Qatar was optimistic or not about a deal and would not comment further on Trump’s social media post.

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