Key facts
- Indirect US-Iran talks on unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian assets will resume in Doha.
- Discussions will cover issues including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
- Iran plans to charge tolls for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Western powers object to Iran's toll plan, favoring Oman's proposal for service fees.
- The International Maritime Organisation suspended talks on a sea route after Iran attacked ships.
Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran concerning the release of at least $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets are scheduled to resume on Wednesday in Doha, Qatar. These talks follow a recent agreement to extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Qatar for discussions on regional matters, including the Iran ceasefire and Lebanon, though Qatar's foreign ministry clarified these meetings were with Qatari mediators and not directly with Iranian officials.
The US is seeking clarification on Iran's proposal to charge tolls for commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Oman's alternative plan involving fees for navigational services. The lack of direct engagement between the two nations highlights ongoing tensions regarding Iran's assertion of control over maritime traffic in the Strait and its opposition to a proposed Lebanon ceasefire.
Discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program have not yet commenced, despite an initial 60-day timeframe. Some diplomats are reportedly concerned by the slow progress. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, cautioned European powers against intervening in de-mining efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting Iran's capability to manage its responsibilities.
Western nations have expressed objections to Iran's plan to impose tolls, potentially showing more openness to Oman's proposal for voluntary contributions or service-based fees. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had been in informal discussions with Iran about its objections to a proposed sea route near Oman, but Iran's subsequent attacks on two ships led the IMO secretary general to suspend the route for further talks.
Maritime tracking data indicates an increase in vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz, though hundreds of seafarers remain stranded since the conflict between the US and Iran began. Iran has committed to efforts to lift the blockade within 30 days. Baghaei described the diplomatic process as expected to face challenges, given it began after two wars within a year.