The United States and Iran have taken a crucial step towards resolving their diplomatic differences as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani in Doha on Tuesday.
The meeting comes after Iran denied any talks with the U.S. in the coming days, although an Iranian delegation expert will be traveling to Qatar on Wednesday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussion will focus on implementing parts of the memorandum of understanding, including the release of Iran's blocked assets.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry released a statement highlighting the meeting's focus on the latest developments in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, as well as efforts to promote security and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. The Qatari statement also stressed the importance of consolidating the ceasefire in Lebanon and preserving its unity, sovereignty, and stability.
The U.S. envoys reportedly emphasized their country's commitment to continuing the negotiations and supporting diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement. However, President Trump expressed doubts about the meeting's significance, stating that it may be "perhaps important, perhaps not."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to strike targets in southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah operative in the village of Manzleh. The IDF said the individual posed a threat to its soldiers and vowed to continue operating to remove any threat posed to its soldiers and civilians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the security zone, reiterating that the IDF would remain in southern Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated. The ongoing conflict between the Israeli military and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group has continued despite a U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
Oman's foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Albusaid, expressed opposition to imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but suggested that fees for maritime, environmental, and navigational services could be discussed voluntarily.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have dismantled an armed "terrorist-separatist" cell in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, killing four group members and seizing weapons and equipment.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, confirmed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will be meeting with mediators in Doha, but emphasized that the meeting will not feature Iran. The Qatari government is also coordinating with Oman on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The mixed signals from Iran and the U.S. have raised doubts about whether negotiators can meet their 60-day deadline, despite President Trump's claims that talks are being hosted in Qatar on Tuesday.
