 |
| A major deep-water port in Sharjah on the Gulf of Oman/photo/Getty image. |
U.S. and Iranian technical teams are expected to resume negotiations in Doha this week as both governments seek to preserve a fragile interim peace agreement that has come under strain following a series of military exchanges over the weekend.
A source familiar with the discussions told Reuters that mediators have established communication channels to help prevent further escalation while technical-level talks continue on implementing the ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month.
An Iranian official familiar with the negotiations said representatives from both countries are expected to meet in Doha on Tuesday. Unlike previous technical meetings held in Switzerland, the discussions are expected to concentrate on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and measures to reduce military tensions rather than broader political issues. U.S. President Donald Trump also confirmed in a social media post that a meeting would take place in Doha on Tuesday, although he did not disclose the agenda or identify the participants.
Washington and Tehran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending four months of conflict. Under the interim agreement, both sides committed to halting hostilities and restoring commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Disruptions to shipping through the strait previously pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel, fueling inflation and creating additional economic pressure for governments worldwide. Trump highlighted declining fuel prices in several social media posts Monday, portraying them as evidence that the agreement was helping stabilize energy markets.
The memorandum establishes a 60-day negotiating period during which the United States and Iran are expected to address more contentious issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and long-term regional security arrangements.
However, officials from both countries have offered differing interpretations of several provisions contained in the agreement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that $6 billion of approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets frozen in Qatar would be released under the agreement, according to Iranian state media.
He described the interim accord as “a great victory for the Iranian people” and said sanctions waivers covering Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries represented a significant economic breakthrough.A senior Iranian source said negotiations between Tehran and Doha were nearing completion on the technical arrangements required to transfer the first $6 billion in two separate installments.
Financial markets continued to monitor developments closely. Brent crude futures rose nearly 1% on Monday after renewed military tensions underscored the fragile nature of the ceasefire.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Doha this week for higher-level meetings alongside the technical negotiations.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire,” Leavitt said. “Violence will be met with violence.”
Despite those statements, uncertainty over the talks remained evident. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said earlier Monday that no technical working group meetings had been scheduled for the week, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, although he added that consultations with Qatar regarding implementation of commitments under the agreement were continuing.
European governments also moved to support regional stability.
French President Emmanuel Macron said after meeting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in Paris that France and Oman would cooperate with international partners on clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz to ensure freedom of navigation and protect global shipping routes.
The latest diplomatic effort follows several days of renewed hostilities that threatened to unravel the ceasefire. The latest escalation began after an Iranian projectile struck a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, prompting both Washington and Tehran to accuse each other of violating the interim agreement.
Iran subsequently launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain early Sunday.
Kuwaiti authorities said air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones, while Bahrain confirmed that warning sirens had sounded across the country.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attacks were carried out in response to what it described as U.S. violations of the ceasefire, warning that American military facilities across the region would “experience hell in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, regional tensions remain complicated by the continuing conflict involving Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, questioned a separate U.S.-mediated agreement between Lebanon and Israel, warning Monday that it could deepen political divisions within Lebanon and would not be implemented.
The conflict in Lebanon erupted after Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel following the outbreak of the broader regional war.
Israeli military operations have since displaced large numbers of civilians and resulted in more than 4,000 deaths in Lebanon.Iran has repeatedly maintained that any comprehensive settlement with the United States must also address Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon and broader regional security concerns, making those issues likely to remain part of future negotiations as both sides attempt to transform the interim ceasefire into a lasting agreement.