President Donald Trump said the conflict with Iran is militarily “effectively over” and that renewed US strikes are “quite unlikely” after a 45 minute White House meeting on Monday with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Trump said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait prefer maintaining the status quo of the US naval blockade and the newly launched Operation Iron Gate land blockade while talks continue, adding that all parties agree Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Brent crude futures fell 5.85%, or $5.75, to settle at $92.57 a barrel amid the diplomatic push and unconfirmed media reports of a Qatari and Pakistani framework. Al Arabiya reported that Washington agreed to let Iran enrich uranium domestically up to 3.67% and unfreeze $6 billion to $9 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the naval blockade and discussing the return of IAEA inspectors. Israel Hayom earlier reported a proposal releasing $8 billion in frozen funds in Qatar without addressing the nuclear program.
