On Sunday evening, a US official mentioned each side would “stand down for now”, and that vessels may “transfer freely” in and across the strait. Technical talks would additionally “proceed on all areas of the MoU”, the official added.
The following day, Iran’s deputy international minister and lead technical negotiator, Kazem Gharibabadi, denied that there have been plans for technical talks this week.
US President Donald Trump responded by saying that Iran had requested a gathering in Qatar’s capital on Tuesday, and White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt introduced that Witkoff and Kushner would fly to Doha for “high-level conferences”.
On Tuesday, Qatar’s international ministry spokesman informed a information convention that the 2 US envoys had arrived in Doha for talks with mediators however not Iranian officers.
“The talks can be round all regional points that are of concern, together with, in fact, the negotiations with Iran, but additionally together with Lebanon and different information within the area,” he mentioned.
“So, they don’t seem to be right here for direct negotiations with the Iranians or associated conferences.”
He added: “To one of the best of my data, there are not any direct conferences scheduled between the 2 events within the coming days.”
Ansari confirmed that technical talks between lower-ranking officers had been persevering with and will later be elevated to senior stage.
“We have now a observe on the nuclear facet. We have now a observe on the financial and state efficiency concern. We have now a observe on safety and the regional safety,” he added.
He additionally mentioned the discharge of $6bn (£4.5bn) of the $12bn in frozen Iranian property held in Qatar trusted progress in talks between the US and Iran that had not but occurred.
Iran’s president mentioned on Monday that the steps to unfreeze the funds had been “underneath method”.