The United States announced that a high-level meeting on Iran would be held in Doha on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump's top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attending, while technical talks would continue on the sidelines. The announcement followed President Trump's social media post on Monday stating that Iran had requested a meeting in the Qatari capital, without providing further details.
Trump envoys to lead US delegation
Shortly after Trump's post, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to Fox News that Witkoff and Kushner would represent the US at the talks. “Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week, as we continue to discuss the memorandum of understanding. On the sidelines of those high-level talks, will be the technical talks,” Leavitt said. She also issued a warning: “As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met with violence.”
Background of the ceasefire and recent strikes
The US and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending four months of conflict. Both sides agreed to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically transits. However, tit-for-tat weekend strikes threatened to derail the fragile accord. The escalation began on Thursday when an Iranian projectile hit a cargo vessel in the strait, leading to several days of strikes and counterstrikes, with both the US and Iran accusing each other of violating the interim ceasefire.
US stance on continued attacks
Leavitt addressed the recent attacks on the “Fox & Friends” program, stating: “There were attacks on commercial vessels that the United States of America, directed by the president, responded to, and that will continue to happen, but we hope we don’t see that. The president obviously wants to see the peace process play out.”
