NEW YORK - The United States and Iran are expected to hold separate talks with Qatari mediators as soon as Monday or Tuesday in a renewed diplomatic effort aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
An official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that Qatari mediators are likely to meet separately with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in New York and with the U.S. side.
The planned discussions would not be direct negotiations between American and Iranian officials.
Instead, Qatar is expected to continue its role as an intermediary, carrying proposals and responses between the two governments.
The talks are expected to focus on an amended version of the seven-day proposal Iran presented last week during the United Nations General Assembly.
The official who described the expected negotiations to Reuters spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was not immediately clear who would represent the United States in the discussions with the Qatari mediators.
Araqchi remains in New York after attending the General Assembly.
The renewed diplomatic effort follows President Donald Trump's rejection of Iran's original proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in the region.
Trump said Saturday that he had rejected the Iranian plan.
Despite rejecting the proposal, Trump indicated that he remained open to additional negotiations.
Reuters reported that Trump told Axios on Sunday that he expected U.S. negotiators to hold further talks with Iran during the week.
The expected Qatari-mediated meetings now appear to represent the next phase of that diplomatic effort.
Amended proposal expected to be discussed
Reuters reported that the upcoming discussions are expected to focus on an amended version of Iran's seven-day proposal rather than the exact plan Trump rejected.
Details of the proposed changes were not immediately disclosed.
Iran's original proposal sought steps that could lead to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities within seven days.
The plan included demands involving sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets, Iranian oil exports and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
It also envisioned further negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
Hormuz remains central to negotiations
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most consequential issues in the conflict.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical route for global oil and natural-gas shipments.
Shipping through the strait has been heavily disrupted during the conflict.
Iran has repeatedly linked a full reopening of the waterway to concessions from Washington involving sanctions, military pressure and access to international markets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Sunday that any move toward reopening Hormuz remained contingent on Tehran's conditions being met.
Araqchi also said mediators had not formally conveyed a U.S. rejection of Iran's proposal despite Trump's public statements.
He said Iran was waiting for mediators to communicate Washington's definitive position before determining its next step.
Diplomatic channels remain active
The latest development indicates that diplomatic channels remain active despite Trump's rejection of Iran's first proposal.
Neither Washington nor Tehran has announced that negotiations have ended.
Qatar has played a central role as an intermediary between the two governments throughout the latest diplomatic effort.
There is currently no indication that American and Iranian officials are preparing to meet face-to-face.
Instead, the planned format involves Qatari mediators holding separate discussions with each side.
Major disagreements remain
Significant differences remain between Washington and Tehran over sanctions, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and the terms for ending regional hostilities.
Iran has maintained that reopening Hormuz depends on its conditions being met.
Washington has pushed for restored shipping through the waterway while maintaining pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program and regional military activity.
Those disagreements mean the expected talks do not necessarily indicate that an agreement is close.
What happens next
Qatari mediators are expected to hold separate discussions with the Iranian and American sides Monday or Tuesday.
The talks are expected to test whether modifications to Iran's original seven-day proposal can narrow the gap between Washington and Tehran.
It remains unclear who will represent the United States in the meetings with Qatar.
For now, the planned talks represent a renewed diplomatic effort rather than an announced ceasefire, peace agreement or deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.