Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior United States envoys, casting fresh doubt over prospects for a lasting peace agreement as both sides remain divided over the implementation of a fragile ceasefire and the future of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian officials said on Tuesday no meetings had been scheduled with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Doha for high-level discussions following the recent outbreak of hostilities.
Instead, Qatar confirmed the American delegation would meet with mediators rather than Iranian representatives.
No meeting at any level with the American side has been scheduled for the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Iran insisted that both countries must first resolve outstanding issues surrounding the ceasefire agreed two weeks ago before discussing more contentious matters, including possible restrictions on its nuclear programme.
The developments underscore continuing disagreements over key elements of the preliminary framework, which proposes that Iran ease restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in return for financial incentives and a 60-day negotiation period aimed at securing a permanent peace agreement.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said lower-level technical talks between the two sides were expected to begin, while Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met the US delegation.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump has discussed possible additional military strikes against Iran with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine but has opted to give diplomacy more time. Reuters said it could not independently verify the report.
Although commercial shipping has partially resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, Iran maintained that it retains authority over traffic through the strategic waterway alongside neighbouring Oman.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, said Tehran planned to introduce transit tolls after the current 60-day negotiation period expires in mid-August.
“The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran,” Qalibaf said on state television.
US Vice President JD Vance rejected that position, insisting Iran would not be allowed to impose charges on international shipping.
“This is not going to end in a place where the Iranians are collecting tolls on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz,” Vance said during an interview.
Despite the diplomatic uncertainty, oil prices have fallen since the weekend following US strikes on Iranian military facilities and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on American military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
However, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development warned that many vulnerable economies could continue to face higher food and fuel prices even as global energy markets stabilise.
The interim agreement also includes provisions aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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