US and Iran send delegations to Qatar as talks on interim deal continue
The United States and Iran have separately announced they will send delegations to Qatar this week for indirect technical talks, though Tehran insists it has not agreed to meet with US counterparts at any level, according to multiple reports.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran had requested a meeting with US counterparts and that they planned to convene on Tuesday in Doha. However, Iranian officials have contradicted this, with the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry saying the delegation would travel to Qatar to discuss terms of the interim deal without involving the US.
Indirect technical talks between the two countries are underway in Doha, with Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators, a source with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met Qatar's prime minister on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for Wednesday's technical sessions but are not attending the talks themselves.
Coverage comparison
Reports from Al Jazeera, Dawn, the Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu — World all confirm that delegations are heading to Doha, though they differ on the nature of the meetings. Al Jazeera reported that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, rejected the premise that technical-level negotiations with the US would be held in Qatar this week, and instead said consultations would be ongoing with Qatari officials.
Dawn reported that US envoys were meeting with Qatari mediators on Tuesday to discuss negotiations with Iran, while Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman confirmed Witkoff and Kushner were in Doha but said "they are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians." The Jerusalem Post quoted Qatar's Foreign Ministry as stating, "No high-level meeting is planned at this stage between the United States and Iran."
The Hindu — World reported that the US and Iran separately announced they will send delegations to Qatar, but Tehran insisted it has not agreed to meet with the US "at any level" after attacks across the Persian Gulf over the weekend challenged negotiations to end the war.
Key claims
- Indirect technical talks between the US and Iran are being held in Doha, with Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators.
- Discussions have been held on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
- The release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds is on the agenda.
- US President Donald Trump said Iran requested a meeting with US counterparts and that they planned to convene in Doha.
- Iran denied agreeing to meet with the US at any level after attacks across the Persian Gulf.
- The US and Iran agreed to an interim deal that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium and waives US-backed oil sanctions on Iran, calling for free traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal gives each side 60 days to hammer out broader agreements.
- Iran's President said $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets would be released by Qatar as negotiations were challenged by attacks.
During the indirect technical talks, Gharibabadi told Iranian media that two meetings were held. The first addressed the US's "violations of its obligations," and the sides decided to establish a communication channel to resolve disputes. The second addressed the release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.
US Vice President JD Vance said discussions were held on the Strait of Hormuz, while informed sources said Tehran's nuclear program, its frozen funds, and the conflict in Lebanon were also on the table, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the US and Iranian technical teams are each expected to hold separate meetings with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.