Doha, Qatar. Iran said it would not meet directly with senior U.S. envoys who traveled to the region after recent hostilities, adding uncertainty to efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement. Iranian officials said the terms of a ceasefire signed two weeks ago must still be settled before broader issues, including possible limits on Iran’s nuclear program, can be addressed.
Ceasefire terms remain unsettled
The latest developments suggested the two sides remain divided on core elements of an initial framework. The framework calls for Iran to end its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives and provides for 60 days of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent peace deal.
U.S. envoys arrive in Doha
U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for what the White House described as high-level talks. Iran and Qatar said the U.S. officials would meet mediators rather than Iranian representatives directly.
Qatar said Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was among those who met Witkoff and Kushner.
Iran rules out direct talks for now
“No meeting at any level with the American side has been scheduled for the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said the two countries were due to begin lower-level technical talks.
Report cites U.S. discussions on possible strikes
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had discussed a return to full-scale war, including more strikes, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, citing U.S. sources familiar with the matter. Reuters said it could not immediately confirm the report.
The report said Trump has decided for now to allow more time for diplomacy, despite publicly threatening Iran with further attacks.
Shipping partially resumes
Shipping has partially resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war began on February 28.