A spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will be in Doha to meet with mediators this week. However, these talks will not feature Iran. This development comes after Iran denied any talks with the United States in the coming days, despite an Iranian delegation expert planning to travel to Qatar later this week.
President Trump had claimed that talks are being hosted in Qatar, but Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has contradicted this statement. The mixed messages have raised doubts about whether negotiators can meet their 60-day deadline, especially after the two countries traded attacks over the weekend. The situation remains complex, with various countries involved in the discussions.
Oman's foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Albusaid, stated that his country does not support imposing transit fees on ships heading through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Oman is open to fees for maritime, environmental, and navigational services. The foreign minister suggested that charges for these services could be discussed voluntarily with the beneficiary countries and companies, and that existing models could be used as a reference.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed to have dismantled an armed "terrorist-separatist" cell in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan. The IRGC reported that forces battled with the cell in mountainous areas, resulting in the deaths of four group members and the seizure of weapons and equipment. This incident highlights the ongoing security concerns in the region.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Qatar to meet with mediators. However, he emphasized that these talks will not feature Iran. Al-Ansari also noted that the $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds have not been transferred to Tehran, and that Qatar is coordinating with Oman on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the denial of talks by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, an Iranian delegation expert is still planning to travel to Doha, Qatar, later this week. The conflicting statements have created uncertainty about the prospects for a negotiated agreement between the US and Iran. The situation remains fluid, with various countries and parties involved in the discussions.
