Key facts
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar for talks.
- The discussions are with mediators regarding an interim deal with Iran.
- The visit follows recent tensions and attacks in the Persian Gulf concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran also sent a delegation to Qatar to discuss implementing a memorandum of understanding.
- The interim deal includes provisions for Iran to dilute enriched uranium and waives U.S. oil sanctions.
Two U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Qatar on Tuesday for talks with mediators concerning an interim deal with Iran. The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf following weekend attacks and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
According to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the U.S. envoys will not engage in direct negotiations with Iranian diplomats. Instead, mediators will act as intermediaries for the discussions, which are not expected to involve high-level Iranian officials.
Iran also dispatched its own delegation to Qatar this week. Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated that Iran had no plans for meetings with the American side at any level. He indicated that the Doha discussions would focus on implementing parts of a memorandum of understanding, including the release of Iran’s blocked assets.
An interim deal was previously agreed upon by the U.S. and Iran, which includes provisions for Tehran to dilute its enriched uranium stockpile, waives U.S.-backed oil sanctions, and calls for free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides have 60 days to negotiate broader agreements.
Prior to the recent conflict, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil was transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's actions and threats had halted shipping traffic, leading to a global energy crisis. The strait, considered an international waterway despite being within Iran and Oman's territorial waters, saw exchanges of strikes last week as efforts were made to open Oman’s territorial waters to traffic. Iran attacked vessels in the strait, including a tanker carrying Qatari crude, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes. Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday.