Iran to Send Delegation to Doha, Denies US Negotiations

Iran said on Monday evening that a delegation of experts would travel to Doha "later this week" to discuss implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States earlier this month, but stressed the visit would not constitute negotiations with Washington. A foreign ministry spokesperson said "we have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement" and that "over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level." The announcement came after conflicting reports regarding whether talks would take place between the US and Iran. Multiple US media reported earlier that, following an agreement to halt attacks after an exchange of strikes strained the deal, the two sides planned to renew talks in Qatar on Tuesday. Iran rejected the claim, with deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying that reports "by some media outlets" on technical talks in Doha "are not confirmed". This prompted US President Donald Trump to respond within hours on his social media platform Truth Social, insisting that "Iran has requested a meeting" and that "it will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) in Doha". White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt subsequently said US envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner would travel to Doha for "high-level meetings" this week. The back-and-forth reflects the fragility of the framework signed on 17 June, which gave both sides 60 days to negotiate a final deal covering Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and the long-term status of the Strait of Hormuz. The deal has come under severe strain after an Iranian drone struck the Panama-flagged crude tanker M/T Kiku near the strait, prompting US Central Command to hit 10 Iranian military targets. Iran retaliated with strikes on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Both sides have since agreed to stand down, with a US official saying vessels could now move freely through the waterway. The de-mining question has added a further complication. After France and Oman announced plans for joint operations following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, Gharibabadi pushed back, insisting only Iran was authorised to conduct them under the agreement. "The situation is sensitive and complex. We strongly advise France not to complicate it further with its provocations," he wrote on X. Maritime data firm Kpler reported just 29 vessels crossed the strait on Saturday, falling to 12 on Sunday. No ships used the southern Omani corridor, while AXSMarine found 44 had stopped publicly transmitting their positions.