Iran Reviews Nuclear Proposals as US Talks Face New Tensions

Iran is considering diplomatic proposals that could reopen negotiations over its nuclear program, according to officials familiar with ongoing mediation efforts. The developments offer a potential opening for the United States and Iran to ease their prolonged conflict, as Qatar intensifies diplomatic contacts to prevent another round of military escalation.

Five officials briefed on the negotiations, including one American and two Iranians, told The New York Times on November 5 that Tehran was examining what they described as concrete proposals. They did not disclose the specific terms under consideration.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry had not immediately responded to a request for comment. The officials spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Qatar has emerged as a central intermediary, organizing two rounds of discussions in Tehran and another in Doha during the preceding week. Two officials also reported recent Qatari contacts with Iranian representatives in Armenia.

The renewed diplomatic activity follows weeks of public resistance from Tehran to resuming negotiations. However, officials familiar with the discussions indicated that Iran has become more receptive to examining possible arrangements.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has publicly maintained that Washington must accept Tehran's conditions before negotiations can advance. On November 3, he criticized the American response to Iran's seven-point proposal.

"America's response to Iran's rights and demands was not convincing, and they must fully and explicitly address Iran's seven conditions and act upon them," Rezaei wrote on X.

He linked those conditions directly to the reopening of the strategic shipping route.

"Only in this case will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened," Rezaei said.

Iran's proposal includes lifting sanctions, ending the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, and stopping military operations across the region. Tehran has also demanded compensation for damage caused by attacks and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Iran has indicated that it could restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington accepts its conditions. The United States is unlikely to agree to several of the demands, particularly those involving compensation and the termination of military operations affecting regional allies.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari confirmed that diplomatic contacts remained active despite the disagreements.

"Both sides remain committed to the negotiation process," al-Ansari said.

He described Qatar's role as facilitating the exchange of negotiating positions between the two governments.

"Real-time exchange of proposals between" the United States and Iran was continuing, al-Ansari said.

US Vice President JD Vance has reportedly become an important supporter of Qatar's diplomatic initiative, according to three officials cited by The New York Times. Last month, Vance sent Rezaei a letter proposing direct peace negotiations that would also address Iran's nuclear program.

Rezaei previously described the change in Washington's approach as evidence of Iran's stronger negotiating position. In an earlier interview with Iranian state television, he said the American tone had changed significantly and characterized the development as encouraging.

Iran's nuclear program remains one of the central disagreements. Washington wants any new agreement to address preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while Iran prefers to postpone nuclear discussions until other aspects of the conflict have been resolved.

Iranian officials have consistently maintained that the country's nuclear activities are peaceful. Rezaei also said that no decision had been made to change Iran's nuclear doctrine.

Diplomatic progress has unfolded alongside renewed military activity. US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces struck an Iranian air defense installation on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz on November 3.

Trump characterized the operation as limited and said it was not a declaration of war. He explained that American forces had monitored construction of the installation before attacking it.

"They built an anti-aircraft facility. It took them about two months. We watched it get built. As soon as it was completed, we hit it last night," Trump told Fox News.

US officials described the operation as defensive, following reported Iranian fire directed toward an American aircraft. The strikes intensified concerns that the conflict could expand after the US midterm elections.

Trump also left open the possibility of further military action, while expressing reluctance to inflict large-scale casualties.

"I'm not looking to kill lots of people," Trump said.

He subsequently acknowledged that additional military action remained possible if circumstances required it.

"If we have to, we'll have to," he said.

Commercial shipping has also faced growing risks around the waterway. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that two unidentified projectiles struck a tanker near Oman's northeastern coast on November 3, hitting its engine room. No injuries or environmental damage were reported.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately claimed that four oil tankers had been destroyed after striking naval mines while attempting to cross a restricted shipping lane south of the Strait of Hormuz. It also said two other vessels had been detained. These claims could not be independently verified as connected to the tanker incident reported by UKMTO.

Iranian military officials have simultaneously strengthened their warnings. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instructed military commanders to respond immediately to threats and expand the country's potential target list.

Regional governments have urged restraint. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for diplomatic flexibility in discussions with his Iranian counterpart, warning against the economic, political, and security consequences of further escalation.

China has also signaled an interest in supporting diplomatic efforts. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced that Beijing would send a special envoy to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November.

Meanwhile, the proposed negotiations remain unresolved, with Qatar continuing to exchange proposals between Washington and Tehran as both governments maintain competing conditions for ending the conflict.