US and Iran peace negotiators head to Qatar but meeting uncertain

DOHA/DUBAI/WASHINGTON — Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams are expected to be in Doha this week, but Iran said Monday that no direct meeting has been scheduled despite renewed diplomatic efforts following weekend missile exchanges that tested a fragile interim ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump is sending his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the American delegation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Iran, meanwhile, is dispatching a technical delegation to Qatar, although Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the visit is unrelated to the U.S. delegation and that no bilateral talks are planned.

"We will not have any negotiation meetings at any level with the American side in the coming days," Baghaei said.

The conflicting statements highlight the uncertainty surrounding the June 17 agreement, which paused the four-month conflict between the United States and Iran. The accord provides at least 60 days for both sides to implement a 14-point memorandum that includes extending the ceasefire, discussing Iran's nuclear program, and negotiating a permanent truce.

Progress has remained slow, with Washington and Tehran accusing each other of violating the agreement.

The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route that previously handled about one-fifth of the world's oil trade. Following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, maritime traffic through the strategic waterway slowed dramatically.

Israel is not participating in the U.S.-Iran peace talks and has distanced itself from the agreement. Regional tensions have also complicated efforts to secure a separate U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressing doubts about the initiative.

The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel, fueling inflation and increasing political pressure on Trump ahead of November's congressional elections. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized the president for conducting military operations without congressional authorization.

A senior Iranian official said a meeting in Doha on Tuesday would focus on managing security in the Strait of Hormuz and reducing regional tensions, rather than continuing the technical nuclear discussions previously held in Switzerland.

Another official familiar with the plans said U.S. and Iranian technical teams are expected to meet separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said the planned discussions in Doha "may be important, maybe not," while maintaining that the United States was "winning militarily" and reiterating that Iran must be prevented from developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran has sought to strengthen its position by asserting greater control over the Strait of Hormuz, including proposing transit fees for commercial vessels and tightening enforcement of shipping routes.

The United States has accused Iran of attacking at least two commercial vessels with missiles or drones in recent days and responded by striking Iranian military facilities. Iran, in turn, launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early Sunday.

Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed members of Congress on Monday regarding the situation with Iran. Republican Sen. Steve Daines described the briefing as constructive, although he said officials offered limited details.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the briefing as lacking substance.

"After dragging America into a costly war, the Trump administration still can't name a single thing Americans got in return," Schumer said. He added that Rubio confirmed Iran would receive billions of dollars in oil revenue while maintaining significant influence over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Monday that $6 billion of the $12 billion in Iranian assets frozen in Qatar would be released and returned to Iran, according to Iranian state media.

Pezeshkian described the memorandum with the United States, which includes sanctions waivers covering Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, as "a great victory for the Iranian people."

Oil prices rose more than 1% on Monday as renewed fighting over the weekend underscored the fragility of the ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France was working with Oman to help reduce tensions and would cooperate with international partners to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said mine-clearing operations should be carried out solely by Iran under the terms of the 14-point agreement, warning France against actions that could further complicate the situation.

-Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha, Parisa Hafezi and Elwelly Elwelly in Dubai; Enas Alashray in Cairo; Bo Erickson, Jacob Bogage, Jonathan Landay, David Morgan and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Writing by Sharon Singleton, Jonathan Allen and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters