Trump to meet Qatar PM today as Iran peace efforts face hurdles

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran continue to face major challenges.

According to the White House schedule, the meeting will take place behind closed doors.

US Vice President JD Vance is also expected to hold talks with the Qatari leader, a US official said.

Qatar has emerged as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran, relaying proposals and working to narrow differences over Iran’s nuclear programme and the conditions for ending the conflict.

However, prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough remain uncertain.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that negotiations with Iran had made little progress and that he did not expect an immediate breakthrough.

Speaking before travelling from Florida to Paris for a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, Rubio said Trump remained in favour of a diplomatic solution but described Iran’s demands as unacceptable, calling some of them “outrageous and ridiculous” and unrealistic.

Trump, meanwhile, said on Sunday that he was unlikely to authorise further strikes against Iran if negotiations showed progress and resulted in a strong agreement.

He nevertheless warned that the United States had identified additional targets inside Iran, including bridges and other infrastructure, should military operations resume.