Iran-US Doha Talks Continue Without Confirmed Formal Meeting
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff remain in Doha today for what has become a mediator-driven diplomatic effort rather than the direct US-Iran meeting Trump originally announced. A senior US source described Tuesday’s conversations as “very positive”, but Iran officially rejected any formal negotiations, calling reports of direct talks speculation. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari confirmed the US envoys came to meet mediators and Qatari officials on regional issues. Iran continues to insist any deal must recognise its control of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil held steady at $86.10 as markets waited for any confirmation of substance in either direction.
Kushner and Witkoff are the same channel that signed the original Lake Lucerne memorandum in April, so their presence in Doha carries real weight even if the format has shifted from bilateral to mediator-driven. Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz remains its principal non-negotiable point: Tehran says any agreement must recognise its control of maritime traffic. Vice President JD Vance’s line that any asset unfreezing must be conditioned on framework compliance gives Washington its main lever. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the wider six-state regional alignment have all pressed both sides for a public confirmation. The next 24-48 hours will decide whether the de-escalation holds or breaks.