US envoys in Doha will meet with mediators, but not with the Iranians

2026-07-01 07:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are in Doha to discuss US-Iran negotiations with mediators, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said, but they will not meet with Iranian officials there.

Majed al-Ansari told reporters that no high-level meetings or direct talks are planned between the two sides in the coming days.

The US and Iran agreed to stop attacking each other and send delegations to the Gulf state after a four-day exchange of attacks sparked by a dispute over the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.

The attacks threatened the preliminary agreement to end the four-month war between the US, Israel and Iran.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) brokered by Pakistan and Qatar less than two weeks ago committed the countries to halt military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass.

They also gave themselves at least 60 days to reach a final agreement covering Iran's nuclear program, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire.

Pakistani and Qatari mediators said encouraging progress was made in the first round of talks held in Switzerland a week ago, which were attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.

They also said a "line of communication" had been formed to enable the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

But that failed to prevent the latest spat of attacks, which began when Iran attacked a cargo ship on Thursday after it tried to open Omani territorial waters to traffic in and out of the southern side of the strait. Iran had warned ships that the only way in was through its waters on the northern side.

On Sunday evening, a US official said both sides would "stand down for the time being" and that ships could "move freely" in and around the strait. Technical talks would also "continue on all areas of the Memorandum of Understanding," the official added.

The next day, Iran's deputy foreign minister and chief technical negotiator, Kazem Gharibabadi, denied that there were plans for technical talks this week.

US President Donald Trump responded by saying Iran had requested a meeting in the Qatari capital on Tuesday, and White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt announced that Witkoff and Kushner would fly to Doha for "high-level meetings."

On Tuesday, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said at a press conference that the two US envoys had arrived in Doha for talks with mediators, but not with Iranian officials.

"The talks will be about all regional issues that are of concern, including, of course, negotiations with Iran, but also Lebanon and other issues in the region," he said./CNA, translated by BBC