Qatar said on Tuesday that no direct or high-level meetings between the United States and Iran had taken place in Doha, even though technical delegations from both countries were still in the city.
Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said in a statement on X that the visit by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was “part of meetings with mediators in the State of Qatar to discuss various regional issues, including negotiations with Iran, the Lebanese file, and other matters.” There were “currently no high-level meetings between the Iranian and American sides under the agreed negotiation mechanism,” he said. The technical delegations “remain in session,” he added, in different settings and with mediators taking part so that the talks continue, “whether in Doha or elsewhere.”
Iran sets a condition
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, said Tuesday that Tehran will hold no further negotiations with Washington until the terms of the memorandum of understanding are put into effect. Reuters, citing Iranian state TV, reported that he also said sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman, and that traffic through it follows arrangements Iran specifies. If the United States tries to stop Iran from selling its oil, he warned, “no one will benefit from oil.” He claimed Iran now sells its oil at prices 20% higher than before.
Iran International quoted Ghalibaf listing the key provisions: a ceasefire in Lebanon, 60 days of toll-free passage through the strait, waivers for exports of Iranian crude and petroleum products, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. “We are following up the process of talks to implement Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding,” he said. “In implementing the end of the war, differences will certainly arise.”
Washington’s account
A senior US official told Fox News that Witkoff and Kushner had “very positive conversations” with regional leaders in Doha, that technical talks continue with good progress, and that ships are “continuing to transit the Strait of Hormuz at higher levels.” Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, met the two envoys and reaffirmed Qatar’s backing for mediation. According to the foreign ministry, the envoys thanked Qatar and Pakistan for their part in the talks.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking on “The Ingraham Angle,” said the US holds “all the cards.” If Iran does not make the concessions the US wants, he said, “their nuclear program is still destroyed, their conventional military is still destroyed,” and the core mission of keeping Iran from a nuclear weapon is done. “It’s a win-win outcome for the American people,” Vance said.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials, that Trump held “multiple conversations” in recent days with War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about more strikes. He decided to stay with diplomacy for now. Trump has said another round of military action could derail talks and lower the chances of dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
Frozen funds and oil
The New York Post reported that none of the $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds set aside for humanitarian purchases has been released. “Nothing is given for free, and everything is tied to benchmarks,” a US administration official said. Officials also turned down Iran’s request for a lump sum. Any future payments would be made in stages, directly to vendors for humanitarian goods.
Oil edged up early Wednesday after Iran’s decision not to hold direct talks with the envoys. Brent futures gained 50 cents, or 0.69%, to $73.45 a barrel by 12:08 GMT, Reuters reported, while US West Texas Intermediate rose 63 cents, or 0.91%, to $70.13.
Unrest in the west
Separately, Iranian security forces came under attack in the Kurdish-majority west. The Jerusalem Post reported, citing Shafaq News, that four Iranian security personnel were killed in two attacks Tuesday. Tasnim said two Revolutionary Guard members died in what it called an “armed terrorist attack” in Paveh. In Baneh, gunmen hit a police checkpoint, killing two officers and wounding three people, including a 3-year-old girl.
Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy and spokesperson of the IRGC Navy, died after his car overturned in Kerman province, Fars News Agency reported. Authorities opened an investigation. Analyst Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran told the New York Sun, “I think it’s suspicious. It could be any of the above.”
