Qatar's top envoy visits Iran as Tehran and Washington consider direct nuclear talks

FILE PHOTO: Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani looks on during a news conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC on November 12 , 2021. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS

DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar's top diplomat visited Iran on Thursday, state media in the two countries reported, days before Qatar's ruling emir holds talks in Washington at a crucial time for efforts by Tehran and major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear pact.

The visit by Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani's comes after his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Monday said Tehran is ready to consider direct talks https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-it-rules-out-us-prisoner-release-nuclear-talks-precondition-2022-01-24 with Washington if it feels it can get a "good nuclear deal".