DOHA: Fresh diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran gathered pace in Qatar on Tuesday, but uncertainty over direct negotiations and the future of the fragile ceasefire continued to cast doubt on hopes for a lasting agreement, according to Arab News.
Senior US officials, including President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, arrived in Doha for high-level meetings with Qatari mediators. However, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no direct talks between US and Iranian officials were scheduled during the visit.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the American delegation would discuss a range of regional issues, including efforts to revive US-Iran negotiations and the situation in Lebanon. He stressed that the meetings were intended to coordinate with mediators rather than hold face-to-face negotiations with Tehran.
Qatar also confirmed that it is working closely with Oman to maintain stability in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. According to Al-Ansari, a direct communication channel has helped reduce tensions and prevent further military confrontations in the strategic waterway.
The spokesperson also clarified that the $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds remains in Qatar under a 2023 agreement and has not been transferred to Iran. The funds are reserved exclusively for humanitarian purposes.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said its delegation would meet Qatari officials on Wednesday to discuss implementation of the interim agreement, including the frozen assets. However, Tehran firmly rejected reports of any planned negotiations with the United States, insisting that no direct talks would take place in the coming days.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major source of international concern after months of conflict severely disrupted global energy supplies. Iran has sought greater control over shipping in the waterway alongside Oman, while the United States has accused Tehran of attacking commercial vessels. Iran has denied wrongdoing and accused Washington of escalating tensions through military strikes.
The conflict has fuelled global inflation, disrupted energy markets and increased political pressure on President Trump ahead of November’s midterm elections. Despite renewed diplomatic activity in Doha, uncertainty continues to surround the prospects of a broader US-Iran agreement and a lasting return to regional stability.
