Iran rejects Qatar draft deal after 8 months of war
Tehran called the proposal unacceptable, leaving the global economy exposed to further disruption as Israeli elections loom.
By Kaito Shevchenko ·
Iran has rejected a ceasefire proposal drafted by Qatar, labeling the terms unacceptable. The draft was presented to Iranian negotiators on Sunday and would have ended an eight-month conflict led by the United States. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Tehran could not proceed with the terms. The official added that the country would show no flexibility on its nuclear program.
US Vice President JD Vance stated earlier this month that Iran must reduce nuclear enrichment to end the war. The Islamic Republic has maintained that its nuclear program serves entirely non-military domestic purposes. The stalled negotiations occur as fears grow that the US and Israel may resume attacks on Iran shortly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the prospect of new strikes to bolster his campaign for re-election. With 77 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc is currently the largest group in the Israeli parliament. On Wednesday, as talks began on forming a new government, Netanyahu announced he would work with President Donald Trump to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran. His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, also supports strikes on Iran combined with economic pressure.
The war, which began in February, has caused massive disruption to the global economy and sent energy prices soaring. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any Israeli-instigated attack in the Gulf would have a devastating impact on global markets. Araghchi noted that this outcome remains a major concern for both gas suppliers and consumers in a post on X.
The potential fallout from renewed conflict is compounded by fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, called for the evacuation of the airport in Aden on Wednesday. Aden serves as the seat of the Saudi-backed government. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree cited the presence of a Saudi military cargo plane carrying weapons intended to kill Yemeni people.
Military sources from both sides told AFP that nearly 100 fighters have been killed in the Yemen conflict since Monday. At least 63 Houthi fighters and 34 combatants associated with the internationally recognized government died. Most of these deaths occurred near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Source: Middle East Eye
