Shea Levin — text status

Efforts to restart U.S.-Iran talks are facing resistance from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which are urging Washington to maintain sanctions and the naval blockade of Iran rather than offer Tehran concessions, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Qatar and Oman are pushing for renewed negotiations, potentially as early as next week. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged U.S. officials to keep the blockade in place until Iran agrees to a new deal, as Riyadh faces growing threats to its oil exports from Iranian attacks and Yemen’s Houthis.