U.S. Envoys in Qatar to Discuss Iran War Resolution

Two U.S. envoys have traveled to Qatar to engage in discussions with mediators about the implementation of an initial agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran. The officials involved are Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special Mideast envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law. Their visit follows recent tensions in the Persian Gulf, focusing on the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic.

According to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the envoys will not engage in direct talks with Iranian diplomats while in Doha. Instead, mediators are facilitating the conversations, which do not include top-level officials. Al-Ansari stated that such indirect negotiations have precedents between Iran and the U.S., though previous talks failed, leading to Israel’s military action against Iran and the ongoing conflict.

Iran is also sending a delegation to Qatar. Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, mentioned that no meeting is planned with the U.S. at any level in the near term. Nevertheless, discussions with the Qatari side will address parts of the memorandum of understanding, which includes releasing Iran’s blocked assets. This allows for potential message exchanges via Qatari mediators.

A recently agreed interim deal requires Tehran to reduce its enriched uranium stockpile. In exchange, the U.S. waives sanctions on oil, ensures free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and sets a 60-day timeline for broader agreements. Before the war began in February, the strait facilitated the transport of 20% of the world’s oil. Recent Iranian threats and attacks have halted cargo movements, causing a global energy crisis.

Despite being located in Iran and Oman’s territorial waters, the strait is considered an international waterway. Both nations exchanged military actions last week as efforts were made to reopen Oman’s territorial waters to shipping traffic. These developments raised concerns about potential disruptions to peace talks.

In recent incidents, Iran attacked vessels in the strait, including a tanker carrying Qatari crude, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes. Additionally, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.