Key facts
- Iran's foreign ministry denied reports of scheduled talks with the US.
- An Iranian expert delegation is set to visit Qatar this week.
- The delegation's visit to Qatar is unrelated to US officials.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the release of $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar.
Iran's foreign ministry has denied reports that it requested a meeting with the United States in Qatar, stating that no talks are scheduled.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that an Iranian expert delegation would travel to Doha later in the week to discuss the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed with the US earlier this month. He clarified that "over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level."
This statement follows claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran had requested a meeting in Qatar. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also confirmed that no technical meetings were planned for the current Iranian week, which concludes on Friday.
The developments occur amidst recent exchanges of fire between Iran and the US in the Gulf, testing a fragile ceasefire. American news outlets, citing US officials, had reported that Tehran and Washington would hold a meeting in Qatar on Tuesday to resolve disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, though the White House had not issued an official statement.
Qatar has been mediating talks between Iran and the US. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Monday that steps are underway to unfreeze $6 billion of the total $12 billion in Iranian assets held in Qatar.