US and Iran negotiators head to Doha, but meeting uncertain
US President Donald Trump is sending his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiating team, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. While Iran sent its technical delegation to Qatar this week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said it had “nothing to do” with the Americans’ visit and that no meetings were planned between the two sides.
Also read: Latest black report of Iran war: Interim deal further jeopardized as both sides go ballistic again
“We will not hold negotiation meetings at any level with the American side in the coming days,” Baghaei said.
The disagreement over whether the sides should meet underlined the fragility of the June 17 agreement to halt the conflict that has disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and created a political headache for Trump ahead of congressional elections in November.
The USA and Iran have given themselves at least 60 days to implement the 14-item memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire in April, discuss Iran’s nuclear program and negotiate a permanent ceasefire. But progress stalls as each side accuses the other of violating agreed-upon terms.
After the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage that previously carried about a fifth of global oil trade, came to a near halt.
Israel did not participate in the US-Iran peace talks and walked away from the agreement. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have complicated efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon, where Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah, has cast doubt on a separate US-brokered deal between Lebanon and Israel aimed at halting the conflict.
The closure of the waterway caused oil prices to rise above $100 per barrel, driving up global inflation and putting pressure on Trump ahead of midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress; Some Republicans here criticized the president for waging war without permission from lawmakers.
A senior Iranian official said a meeting will be held in Doha on Tuesday, but unlike previous technical talks between Iran and US teams in Switzerland, the focus will be on managing the Strait of Hormuz and reducing tensions.
Technical teams from the United States and Iran are expected to meet separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday, another official with knowledge of the plans said.
Also read: Iran, US agree to halt attacks and renew talks, US official says
UNCERTAINTY IN WASHINGTON
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: “Maybe the meeting in Doha will be important, maybe not. We’ll find out.”
He also said “militarily we are winning” and repeated the requirement that Iran stop producing nuclear weapons.
Iran has sought to gain advantage by expanding its control over the strait it shares with neighbor Oman, saying it plans to charge ships using the waterway and block ships that stray outside designated routes.
The United States has accused Iran of hitting at least two commercial ships with missiles or drones in recent days, and has bombed Iranian military facilities in response. Iran also launched missiles and drones at US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday.
Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed members of Congress on Iran by phone on Monday. Republican Senator Steve Daines told reporters they kept their remarks to a minimum but still found the meeting “constructive.”
But Senate Top Democrat Chuck Schumer called the briefing “incomplete and lacking in detail.”
“After dragging America into a costly war, the Trump administration still won’t name a single thing Americans got in return. Instead, Secretary Rubio confirmed to me that Iran will reap billions of dollars in oil revenue while maintaining dangerous influence over the Strait of Hormuz,” Schumer said.
RELEASE OF FROZEN IRANIAN ASSETS
According to reports in Iranian state media, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that $6 billion of the $12 billion in assets frozen in Qatar will be released and returned to Iran.
He described the agreement, which includes US exemption from sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors, as “a great victory for the Iranian people.”
Oil prices rose more than 1 percent after weekend clashes highlighted the fragility of the U.S.-Iran deal.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he was working with Oman to reduce tensions and would cooperate with partners on demining the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Garibabadi said with message X that the removal of mines will be carried out only by Iran according to the 14-item plan. He warned France not to complicate the situation.
