Pezeshkian in Qatar as Iran pushes to revive nuclear deal, isolate Israel
Coming just a day after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, Iran is expecting the visit to serve as a multifaceted initiative, helping shape its future standing in the volatile landscape and boost prospects of sanctions relief to salvage its battered economy.
TEHRAN — Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Qatar on Wednesday for a two-day visit, where he is scheduled to sit down with top Qatari officials and attend a summit of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, a 35-member body promoting Asia-wide cooperation.
Iran's state media has widely speculated that the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal will be a key agenda topic pursued by Pezeshkian in his meetings with Qatari authorities.
The accord, which had promised Iran multiple economic dividends in exchange for key restrictions on its nuclear program, was scrapped by the United States in 2018, leading to a reimposition of onerous sanctions on the Islamic Republic, battering its economy.
Qatar's close ties with the United States and its role as an emerging regional and global mediator in recent years have particularly raised hope among Iranian pundits that Doha could serve as a conduit for negotiations, amid Tehran's growing interest in reestablishing diplomatic channels with the West.
