Qatar Denies High-Level US-Iran Talks in Doha Despite Trump’s Announcement

Doha: Qatars Foreign Ministry has stated there are no high-level meetings planned between US and Iranian officials in Doha, contradicting US President Donald Trump's recent claims that Iran had requested talks. The announcement comes after the White House revealed that senior US envoys would be traveling to Qatar for negotiations. According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari clarified on June 30 that there are no direct meetings scheduled between the US and Iranian parties in the upcoming days. Al Ansari noted that the American delegation, including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would instead meet with Qatari mediators. This statement follows President Trump's assertion on June 29 that Iran had requested a meeting, which was supposed to occur in Doha the following day. However, Iranian officials have also confirmed no talks are scheduled with the United States this week. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei emphasized on June 30 that Iran is not prepared to enter negotiations until the United States meets certain criteria outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MOU), particularly concerning the conflict in Lebanon. Baqaei stressed that talks are contingent upon the US enforcing Israel to cease its attacks on Lebanon. The interim agreement, intended to halt hostilities following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic while broader negotiations were underway. Baqaei underscored that the US has committed to ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and that compliance with these commitments is crucial for Iran. Despite the US delegation's visit to Qatar, Baqaei reiterated that there will be no negotiations with the American side in the coming days. He mentioned an Iranian technical team's visit to Doha, unrelated to the US officials' presence, to discuss the release of approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar. Amid these developments, the Unit ed States and Iran have exchanged strikes, threatening the fragile cease-fire and complicating efforts to resume negotiations. Iran cited US attacks and alleged violations of the MOU as reasons for refusing to meet US negotiators on June 28. Moreover, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that Tehran had regained control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning against any attempts to bypass Iranian-approved routes. Tensions escalated further when Iran launched missiles and drones targeting US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, following US strikes on Iranian military sites. The ongoing conflict reflects the delicate nature of US-Iran relations and the significant role of mediators like Qatar in attempting to navigate the complex diplomatic landscape.