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Qatar says US–Iran talks made 'progress'; an unnamed Iranian official says Hormuz stays shut until 'all' Iran's conditions are met

We hold four reports from Friday. Qatar's prime minister spoke on the record and said Thursday's indirect talks moved forward. An Iranian official who would not be named said the strait stays closed. Reuters said crude fell more than 2%. CNBC said Saudi exports are at their highest since the war began.

Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says
Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says as published by The Jerusalem Post · seen at The Jerusalem Post
Economy Iran United States Qatar Saudi Arabia

The split. The reports disagree on whether a way out of the US–Iran war is close.

Report What it leads with Who says it
An-Nahar Thursday's indirect talks "made progress" Qatar's prime minister, named, speaking to CNN
The Jerusalem Post The strait stays closed until the US meets "all of Iran's conditions" One Iranian official, not named
Reuters Crude fell more than 2% as both sides look for a way out Reuters. We hold only its headline
CNBC Saudi crude exports are at their highest since the war began CNBC. We hold only its opening line

Named hope, unnamed refusal. The claim of progress comes with a name. The refusal does not. An-Nahar says the unnamed official spoke to Reuters. So both reports that carry him rest on one account.

What Iran has offered. An-Nahar says Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, set out the terms. Fighting would end on all fronts, including Lebanon. The US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Frozen funds would be released and Iran's oil exports freed from sanctions. All of it would happen within 7 days. In return, Tehran would reopen the strait.

What is not settled. - No report gives an oil price level or a benchmark. We cannot say which crude fell, or from what price. - No report says how the US has answered Iran's proposal. - CNBC gives no export volume and no count of the attacks on Saudi infrastructure. - No report links the price fall to fuel prices or household bills.

What this is about. The United States and Iran are at war, and Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea passage out of the Gulf. Talks are under way to end both.

How it got here. Iran and Israel have been enemies since Iran's 1979 revolution. Israel, the United States and other Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran denies it. Tension rose after the war in Gaza that followed the attacks of 7 October 2023. In June 2025 Israel and the United States struck Iran's nuclear sites. An-Nahar says the UN's nuclear watchdog estimated that Iran then held 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, and that it is unclear how much is left. The reports we hold do not say when the current war began.

The strait. Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman. It is the only way out to open sea for ships leaving Gulf ports in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast. Closing it is Iran's main lever. Washington's is its blockade of Iranian ports.

Who is involved. - Iran wants the blockade and sanctions lifted and its frozen funds released. - The United States wants ships to pass freely and wants Iran to give up uranium enrichment. - Qatar is carrying messages between the two sides. It is a Gulf exporter, and its own shipments go through the strait. - Saudi Arabia is the largest Gulf oil exporter. CNBC says its infrastructure is under attack from Iran-backed militants in Yemen and Iraq.

What is at stake. If the strait reopens, Gulf oil and gas can move by sea again. If it stays shut, supply, shipping costs and Gulf export revenues depend on the talks.

Where it stands. Iran has made a proposal and is waiting for a US reply. An-Nahar says Iran's president hopes for a deal before the US midterm elections on 3 November.

The story so far

Earlier stories The AI Times filed on this thread.

What is being argued about

  • Whether Thursday's indirect US–Iran talks moved forward
  • Iran's terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz
  • Oil prices and Saudi exports while the strait is closed
  • Iran's refusal to give ground on uranium enrichment
Four reports, four readings of the same daySide by side
OutletWhat it saidSource named?
An-NaharThursday's indirect talks "made progress"Yes: Qatar's prime minister
The Jerusalem PostThe waterway "would remain closed" until the US meets "all of Iran's conditions"No: an Iranian official speaking anonymously
ReutersCrude fell more than 2% as the US and Iran look for a way out of the warReuters' own report. No benchmark given
CNBCSaudi crude exports are at their highest since the war began, despite a pipeline outageCNBC's own report. No volume given
For Reuters and CNBC we hold only the headline or the opening line.
Sources An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent قطر تكشف عن تقدّم بالمحادثات... الاقتراح الإيراني على طاولة ترامب Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Jerusalem Post
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Jerusalem Post 🇮🇱IL · newspaper · independent Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Jerusalem Post → What we have measured A count the body does not carry the headline says eight countries; the sentence names seven foreign ministers ×1Actor framing The Gulf ministers are the ones acting. Iran is the party they meet. ×1Actor generalised The headline has 'Baghdad' celebrating. The photo caption says the crowd is supporters of one armed group. ×1Actor named names the militias and calls the act 'desecration', in its own voice ×1 from 4111 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra · no time published Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Reuters → What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → CNBC
Centre estimate · not a score
CNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Saudi Arabia crude oil exports hit highest level since Iran war began despite pipeline outage Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at CNBC → What we have measured Accepted term 'refund' used without quotation marks ×1Asserted versus attributed gives the motive as fact, not as Trump's stated reason ×1Attackers named as proxies the attackers are named only through their backer, Iran ×1Attacks named but not counted The report names the attackers. 'Escalating' comes with no count of attacks or damage. ×1 from 2886 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The bias in this coverageBias

Oil moves, but not at the pump

The fall in the oil price is reported as a percentage, with no price level and no link to fuel or household bills. The strait's closure comes from an Iranian official none of the reports name. Only one report quotes a named mediator.

0 reports that give an oil price level 2 reports that rest on an unnamed Iranian official 1 reports that quote a named mediator 0 reports that mention fuel or household costs
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra · no time published Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Reuters → What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent قطر تكشف عن تقدّم بالمحادثات... الاقتراح الإيراني على طاولة ترامب Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Jerusalem Post
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Jerusalem Post 🇮🇱IL · newspaper · independent Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Jerusalem Post → What we have measured A count the body does not carry the headline says eight countries; the sentence names seven foreign ministers ×1Actor framing The Gulf ministers are the ones acting. Iran is the party they meet. ×1Actor generalised The headline has 'Baghdad' celebrating. The photo caption says the crowd is supporters of one armed group. ×1Actor named names the militias and calls the act 'desecration', in its own voice ×1 from 4111 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → CNBC
Centre estimate · not a score
CNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Saudi Arabia crude oil exports hit highest level since Iran war began despite pipeline outage Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at CNBC → What we have measured Accepted term 'refund' used without quotation marks ×1Asserted versus attributed gives the motive as fact, not as Trump's stated reason ×1Attackers named as proxies the attackers are named only through their backer, Iran ×1Attacks named but not counted The report names the attackers. 'Escalating' comes with no count of attacks or damage. ×1 from 2886 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Claims and verdicts

unverified Qatar's prime minister said Thursday's indirect US–Iran talks made progress.
Only An-Nahar carries this, citing his interview with CNN. No other report we hold gives the statement.
Checked against 1 source:
An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent قطر تكشف عن تقدّم بالمحادثات... الاقتراح الإيراني على طاولة ترامب Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified A senior Iranian official said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the US meets all of Iran's conditions.
An-Nahar and the Jerusalem Post both carry it, but An-Nahar says it came to Reuters from one anonymous official, so this is a single account. No named Iranian official says so in the reports we hold.
Checked against 2 sources:
An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent قطر تكشف عن تقدّم بالمحادثات... الاقتراح الإيراني على طاولة ترامب Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Jerusalem Post
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Jerusalem Post 🇮🇱IL · newspaper · independent Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Jerusalem Post → What we have measured A count the body does not carry the headline says eight countries; the sentence names seven foreign ministers ×1Actor framing The Gulf ministers are the ones acting. Iran is the party they meet. ×1Actor generalised The headline has 'Baghdad' celebrating. The photo caption says the crowd is supporters of one armed group. ×1Actor named names the militias and calls the act 'desecration', in its own voice ×1 from 4111 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified Crude oil prices fell more than 2% as the US and Iran sought a way out of the war.
Only Reuters reports the fall, and we hold only its headline, with no benchmark or closing price. No other report gives a price move.
Checked against 1 source:
Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra · no time published Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Reuters → What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Who wrote it

S Spencer Kimball CNBC
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Attackers named as proxies the attackers are named only through their backer, Iran×1
Attacks named but not counted The report names the attackers. 'Escalating' comes with no count of attacks or damage.×1
Certainty the same step is a feasibility question, attributed to the Treasury Secretary×1
How firm the decision is hedged to a feasibility question and attributed to a named official×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 misleading1 disputed2 unverified2 true
From 30 reports we hold under this byline, at CNBC. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting. · 3 reports we hold carry no byline — we do not invent one.

Coverage, outlet by outlet

The Jerusalem Post
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Jerusalem Post 🇮🇱IL · newspaper · independent Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Jerusalem Post → What we have measured A count the body does not carry the headline says eight countries; the sentence names seven foreign ministers ×1Actor framing The Gulf ministers are the ones acting. Iran is the party they meet. ×1Actor generalised The headline has 'Baghdad' celebrating. The photo caption says the crowd is supporters of one armed group. ×1Actor named names the militias and calls the act 'desecration', in its own voice ×1 from 4111 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Leads with the unnamed Iranian official: no nuclear concessions, and the waterway stays closed until the US meets "all of Iran's conditions".
Iran will show no flexibility over its nuclear program even if the United States accepts its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which calls for steps including the lifting of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the waterway would remain closed until the United States meets “all of Iran's conditions.”Under Iran's proposal, Tehran has offered to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Within seven days, hostilities would end on all fronts, including Lebanon; the United States
Anonymous source in the headline: The whole report rests on one unnamed Iranian official. — “The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the waterway would remain closed”
Anonymous source: the hard line comes from an Iranian official who is not named — “The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the waterway would remain closed”
Read it at The Jerusalem Post → https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-909735
Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra · no time published Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Reuters → What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report with a price move. Its headline ties a fall of more than 2% in crude to the search for a way out of the war.
Market move tied to diplomacy: The report pairs a fall of more than 2% with the talks. It gives no price level and no benchmark. — “Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra”
Market read as verdict: ties the oil price fall directly to the diplomacy in one sentence — “Crudo caen más de un 2% mientras EEUU e Irán buscan una salida a la guerra”
Read it at Reuters → https://www.reuters.com/es/negocio/SGRBWDK5ENPLPALQHLYUYXQKHY-2026-09-2…
CNBC
Centre estimate · not a score
CNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Saudi Arabia crude oil exports hit highest level since Iran war began despite pipeline outage Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at CNBC → What we have measured Accepted term 'refund' used without quotation marks ×1Asserted versus attributed gives the motive as fact, not as Trump's stated reason ×1Attackers named as proxies the attackers are named only through their backer, Iran ×1Attacks named but not counted The report names the attackers. 'Escalating' comes with no count of attacks or damage. ×1 from 2886 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report on oil that is still moving. Saudi crude exports are at their highest since the war began, despite a pipeline outage and attacks by Iran-backed militants.
Saudi exports are rising despite escalating attacks on its infrastructure from Iran-backed militants in Yemen and Iraq.
Attacks named but not counted: The report names the attackers. 'Escalating' comes with no count of attacks or damage. — “despite escalating attacks on its infrastructure from Iran-backed militants in Yemen and Iraq”
Attackers named as proxies: the attackers are named only through their backer, Iran — “escalating attacks on its infrastructure from Iran-backed militants in Yemen and Iraq”
Read it at CNBC → https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/25/saudi-arabia-oil-iran-war-pipeline-stra…
An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent قطر تكشف عن تقدّم بالمحادثات... الاقتراح الإيراني على طاولة ترامب Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report that quotes a named mediator. Qatar's prime minister says the talks made progress and calls the situation in the strait unacceptable. It also sets out Iran's proposal in full.
تتكثّف الجهود الديبلوماسية للتوصّل غلى اتفاق يُنهي الحرب بين إيران والولايات المتحدة، بعد الاجتماع الذي حصل على هامش أعمال الجمعية العامة لـ الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك والاقتراح الإيراني الجديد لإنهاء النزاع، والذي تنتظر طهران ردّاً أميركياً عليه.تقدّمأعلن رئيس الوزراء وزير الخارجية القطري الشيخ محمد بن عبد الرحمن آل ثاني، اليوم الجمعة أن المحادثات غير المباشرة بين إيران والولايات المتحدة التي أُجريت أمس الخميس أحرزت تقدّماً، مشيراً إلى أن الدوحة لمست لدى الطرفين رغبة في إحراز تقدّم في المفاوضات.وقال، في مقابلة مع شبكة سي أن أن إن قطر بذلت جهدها لإعادة المسار الديبلوماسي إلى الطريق الصحيح، مؤكّد
Anonymous source: The same unnamed official, credited to a news agency, is set against a named Qatari prime minister. — “الذي طلب عدم نشر اسمه”
US named as acting: The report names the US blockade as the actor, with a strong verb. — “الحصار الأميركي الذي يخنق اقتصادها”
Iran named as acting: In the same sentence the report names Tehran as the actor closing the strait, so both sides are named as acting. — “المضيق الذي تغلقه طهران”
Progress attributed: the claim of progress is credited to Qatar's prime minister — “أحرزت تقدّماً”
Both sides named as acting: Tehran is named as closing the strait and Washington as enforcing a blockade that 'strangles' Iran's economy — “الحصار الأميركي الذي يخنق اقتصادها”
Read it at An-Nahar → https://www.annahar.com/international/iran/351364/قطر-تكشف-عن-تقدم-بالم…

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