Key facts
- Iran's foreign ministry denied scheduled talks with the US.
- An Iranian expert delegation is visiting Qatar to discuss implementing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are in Doha for talks with mediators, not Iranian officials.
- Iran warned of a response to any US violation of the MoU.
- The release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets depends on progress in talks.
Iran's foreign ministry has denied reports of scheduled talks with the United States, stating that an expert delegation will visit Qatar this week solely to discuss the implementation of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei clarified that the visit would not constitute negotiation meetings with Washington at any level. This announcement follows conflicting signals from the US, including claims by President Donald Trump that Iran had requested a meeting in Doha. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that US envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner would travel to Doha for "high-level meetings." Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that the US envoys had arrived in Doha for talks with mediators but not Iranian officials, and that no direct meetings between the two parties were scheduled in the coming days. Technical talks between lower-ranking officials are continuing. The exchange highlights the fragility of the framework agreement, which commits the countries to halt military operations and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass. The agreement also gives them at least 60 days to reach a final deal covering Iran's nuclear program, US sanctions, and a permanent truce. In parallel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that steps are being taken to unfreeze $6 billion of the total $12 billion in Iranian assets held in Qatar, which depends on progress in talks that have not yet happened. Iran has warned of a decisive response to any US violation of the MoU.