Qatari official says US-Iran negotiations need 'more time'

Qatar says that US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, require more time to reach a deal, a day after US President Donald Trump said he had postponed planned attacks to give the process a chance.

“We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do believe it needs more time,” Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari says at a press conference.

“We want to protect the people of the region from being basically the main losers of any escalation in the region,” al-Ansari says.

He would not say whether Qatar was optimistic or not about a deal, and would not comment further on Trump’s remarks about the negotiations.