US Envoys in Doha for Indirect Talks on Iran Nuclear Issue, Says Qatar
United States envoys have arrived in Doha for talks with mediators regarding Iran's nuclear programme, but no direct negotiations with Iranian officials are scheduled, Qatar's foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.
The US delegation, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Middle East adviser Jared Kushner, is in the Qatari capital for discussions that will cover regional issues including Iran, Lebanon and other files, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman told a news conference.
'They are not here for direct negotiations with the Iranians or related meetings,' the spokesman said, adding that to his knowledge no direct meetings between the two parties were planned in the coming days.
The development follows conflicting statements from US and Iranian officials. On Sunday, a US official said both sides would 'stand down for now' and that vessels could 'move freely' in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with technical talks continuing on 'all areas of the MoU' (memorandum of understanding). However, Iran's deputy foreign minister and lead technical negotiator, Kazem Gharibabadi, denied plans for technical talks this week.
US President Donald Trump responded by saying Iran had requested a meeting in Doha. The White House announced that Witkoff and Kushner would fly to Doha for 'high-level meetings'.
A senior Trump administration official told CBS News that very positive conversations had been held between Witkoff, Kushner and regional leaders, and that good progress in technical talks continues.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said in Tehran that Iranian officials were likely to hold talks with mediators in Doha on Wednesday to discuss implementation of provisions in the MoU, including the release of Iranian assets frozen under US sanctions. He added that no meeting at any level with the American side had been scheduled for the coming days.
An Iranian official, Ansari, confirmed that technical talks between lower-ranking officials would continue this week and could later be elevated to senior level. He outlined three tracks: nuclear issues, economic and state performance, and regional security.
Ansari also said the release of $6 billion of the $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar depended on progress in talks between the US and Iran that had not yet happened. Baqai said Iran would 'do whatever is necessary to safeguard its interests' over the Strait of Hormuz and implement related provisions in the MoU.
