Iran and the United States are at odds over planned negotiations in Doha this week, with Tehran stating on Monday that no meeting has been scheduled, even as both sides exchanged missile fire over the weekend, testing the interim ceasefire aimed at ending a four-month-old conflict. The disagreement underscores the fragility of the June 17 accord that paused hostilities disrupting global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Conflicting Statements on Doha Meeting
US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Donald Trump is sending his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiating team in Doha. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran's technical delegation is traveling to Qatar this week but has "no relation" to the American visit, and no talks between the two sides are scheduled. "We will not have any negotiation meetings at any level with the American side in the coming days," Baghaei stated.
The disagreement over whether the sides would meet highlights the fragility of the June 17 memorandum of understanding, which gave both parties at least 60 days to implement a 14-point plan to extend an April ceasefire, discuss Iran's nuclear program, and negotiate a permanent truce. Progress has been halting, with each side accusing the other of violating agreed terms.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis and Oil Prices
After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow chokepoint that previously carried about a fifth of the global oil trade—came to a virtual standstill. The closure sent oil prices above $100 a barrel, pushing up global inflation and putting pressure on Trump ahead of November's congressional elections, where control of the US Congress is at stake. Some fellow Republicans have criticized the president for waging war without lawmakers' authorization.
A senior Iranian official said there would be a meeting in Doha on Tuesday, but unlike previous technical talks in Switzerland, the focus would be on managing the Strait of Hormuz and de-escalating tensions. Another official with knowledge of the plans said technical teams from the US and Iran are expected to meet separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday.
Trump's Stance and Congressional Reactions
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, "The meeting in Doha is going to be perhaps important, perhaps not. We're going to find out." He maintained "we're winning militarily" and repeated his condition that Iran must be stopped from producing a nuclear weapon. Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed members of Congress on Iran by phone on Monday. Republican Senator Steve Daines called the conversation "constructive," while top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer deemed the briefing "deficient and devoid of details." Schumer said, "After dragging America into a costly war, the Trump administration still can't name a single thing Americans got in return. Instead, Secretary Rubio confirmed to me that Iran will reap billions in oil revenue while retaining dangerous leverage over the Strait of Hormuz."
Iran's Leverage and Frozen Assets
Iran has sought leverage by sharing control of the Strait with neighboring Oman, saying it plans to charge fees to ships using the waterway and obstruct vessels that stray outside defined paths. The US has claimed that Iran has hit at least two commercial ships with missiles or drones in recent days and has bombed Iranian military facilities in response. Iran launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that $6 billion of the $12 billion in assets frozen in Qatar would be released and returned to Iran, according to state media. He described the memorandum, which includes US waivers for sanctions on Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, as "a great victory for the Iranian people." Oil prices rose more than 1% after weekend hostilities highlighted the fragility of the US-Iran accord.
International Reactions and De-mining Efforts
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said he was working with Oman to de-escalate tensions and would cooperate with partners to de-mine the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on X that the removal of mines was to be carried out solely by Iran according to the 14-point plan, warning France against complicating the situation. Israel has not joined the US-Iran peace talks and has distanced itself from the agreement, while tensions have complicated efforts to end fighting in Lebanon, where Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, has cast doubt on a separate US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
