Iran May Respond to New Qatar Proposal as Early as Thursday

The sequencing dispute is the real story here: Washington wants nuclear steps first, Tehran wants sanctions relief first, and Qatar's proposal appears designed to bridge that gap by bundling both into an initial phase. Restoring IAEA inspectors' access would be the most verifiable concession on the table, giving markets and monitoring bodies a tangible signal if a deal advances. Whether either side accepts parallel first steps rather than a strict order remains the open question, and the pace of any Thursday response will indicate how much political room exists.