Qatar said on Wednesday that the US and Iran had concluded indirect talks on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the conflict between the two nations.
“Qatar & Pakistan mediators concluded separate meetings with the US & Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, building on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit,” said Watari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.
“The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader,” al-Ansari added.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said the talks, which came after the US and Iran traded strikes for several days, focused on “US violations” of the MoU and that the two sides agreed on opening a “communication channel” for the implementation of the agreement.
“US violations of its commitments under Clause 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the cessation of war in Lebanon, reports of US efforts to reinforce equipment and forces in the region, and some threatening and interventionist statements by US officials were raised and examined by the Iranian delegation,” Gharibabadi said.
“It was decided that a direct communication channel for the monitoring group would be established by tomorrow, and that shortcomings in the implementation of the MoU would be reported, discussed, and decided upon in a formal and documented manner,” he added.
Sources told Reuters that the talks focused on the Strait of Hormuz and that US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner ddn’t take part in the talks with Qatari and Pakistani negotiators despite being sent to Qatar for what the White House said would be “high-level” negotiations with Iran.
President Trump previously claimed that Iran had requested to hold a meeting with the US in Qatar, though Iranian officials denied that claim and said they had no plans for direct talks with US officials.
On Wednesday, President Trump described the meetings as “very good” and claimed the “denuclearization” of Iran was progressing, but the Reuters report said the issue wasn’t discussed. Iran has been clear that it won’t begin talks on a long-term nuclear deal until it deems the US is living up to its commitments under the MoU, and Iranian officials have ruled out the idea of Iran giving up its civilian nuclear program.
Gharibabadi also said that it was agreed that some of the $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds held by Qatar would be released. “In meetings with Qatari officials, including the Central Bank, some issues related to the expenditure of part of the initial $6 billion were examined, and it was decided that, according to our country’s announced needs, the purchase of necessary goods would be carried out and made available to Iran,” he said.
