Islamabad, 30 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Qatari mediators have returned to Tehran to make further progress towards a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, as major differences over nuclear issues, sanctions and a US port blockade continue to hinder negotiations. An official familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the latest mediation efforts were being coordinated with Washington. Qatar had submitted a draft peace proposal to Iran earlier this week, but a senior Iranian official reportedly rejected the suggestions as unacceptable, reiterating Tehran’s position on its nuclear programme. The United States wants nuclear matters to be addressed from the outset of negotiations, while Iran insists that Washington must first lift its blockade of Iranian ports and remove restrictions on the country’s oil exports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran remained in close contact with mediators to examine proposals that could help implement Iran’s own seven-day initiative to end the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Vice President JD Vance’s communication with Iran concerned medical supplies, following media reports linking the contact to renewed efforts to revive peace negotiations. Despite continued diplomatic engagement, significant differences between the two sides remain unresolved.