US envoys meet Qatar mediators as Iran denies direct talks

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for meetings with Qatari mediators as efforts to implement a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding continued without direct talks between American and Iranian officials.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the U.S. envoys would discuss the implementation of a ceasefire and broader regional issues, including Iran and Lebanon, but would not meet Iranian diplomats in the Qatari capital. The clarification followed President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran had requested a meeting, which Tehran denied.

“To the best of my knowledge, there are no direct meetings scheduled between the two parties in the coming days,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said, according to CBS News.

Al Ansari said Witkoff and Kushner were in Doha “to meet with mediators, with Qatari officials,” adding: “They are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians.”

Iran said it would send an expert delegation to Doha to discuss the implementation of provisions in the memorandum of understanding, including the release of frozen Iranian assets and disputes over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the expected discussions would be with Qatar, not the United States.

“What is expected to take place in Doha, probably tomorrow, will be discussions regarding the implementation of provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including the provision concerning the release of Iran’s restricted assets, and these discussions will be held with the Qatari side,” Baghaei told reporters.

He said Iran had “not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement” and added that “over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the U.S. side at any level.”

A central issue is $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar. Iranian state media quoted President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying the money was set to be released, CBS News reported. Qatar said no transfer had taken place.

“So far, no funds have been transferred,” Al Ansari said. “Qatar is not the owner of these funds. It only plays the role of a financial mediator managing these accounts within the framework of this agreement between the parties.”

He said any transfer would depend on mutual agreement and the progress of negotiations. Vice President JD Vance said last week that Washington would ensure any unfrozen Iranian assets would not be used to finance terrorism. “If we ever unfreeze Iranian assets, we can ensure that… Iranian money goes to help the people of Iran and not to fund terrorism,” he said.

The memorandum also covers shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera reported that Iran objects to the pace of implementation and believes Article 5 gives it authority to organize traffic in the strait during 60 days of negotiations before a final deal. The report said U.S. officials appear to believe Iran should allow traffic to flow freely.

Iran is also concerned about proposed new routes near the Omani side of the waterway, which Al Jazeera reported Tehran views as a violation of the memorandum because Iran says it was not coordinated with.

Qatar said a dedicated hotline helped contain an exchange of fire between the United States and Iran in the strait last week, and that Doha was coordinating with Oman to ensure safe passage for ships.

The diplomatic effort is also complicated by Lebanon. An agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon links an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the disarmament of Hezbollah. Analysts cited by Reuters and reported by CBS News said the arrangement could allow Israel to remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely if Hezbollah does not disarm.

Trump described the Doha effort as uncertain. “The meeting in Doha is going to be perhaps important, perhaps not,” he told reporters. “We’re going to find out.”