US and Iranian Negotiators Meet in Doha for Talks

US President Donald Trump Announces Planned Meeting with Iran in Qatar

A meeting between American and Iranian officials has been scheduled for Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, according to a statement made by US President Donald Trump on Monday. The meeting was announced as part of efforts to reduce tensions between the two countries following recent attacks.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied any planned meeting with the US, but stated that it will send an expert delegation to Doha to follow up on the release of frozen Iranian assets. The assets were agreed upon as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this month to halt hostilities between the two countries.

The MoU calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and has been delayed due to ongoing talks for a final deal. The US and Iran have accused each other of violating the agreement, which aims to prevent further escalation in the region.

According to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend high-level meetings in Doha this week. Iranian officials have stated that their priority is to ensure the implementation of the MoU with Washington.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that US envoys Kushner and Witkoff have arrived in the country, but will not engage in direct meetings with Iranian officials. Instead, they will meet with mediators and discuss the progress of negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

The meeting in Doha is expected to focus on several key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint that has been used as geostrategic leverage by both sides. The issue of frozen Iranian funds is also likely to be discussed, with the US having $6 billion in assets frozen pending resolution.

A technical meeting will take place alongside the high-level meeting, discussing the implementation of the MoU and addressing concerns related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Al Jazeera