US and Iran hold indirect talks in Doha as Trump claim of direct meeting is denied
US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha to advance a framework to end the Middle East conflict, but Qatar and Iran denied any direct meeting, contradicting President Trump's statement that Tehran had requested one.
Arrival in Doha
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff landed in Doha on 30 June for talks with Qatari mediators, according to official statements from Qatar and Washington. The visit is part of a US-led push to finalize a framework agreement aimed at ending the broader regional war. President Donald Trump said on Monday evening that Iran's leadership had asked for the meeting, and that it would occur on Tuesday.
Conflicting signals
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Madsched al-Ansari, quickly countered Trump's account.
He added that no high-level meetings were expected in the coming days. Iran's foreign ministry also denied any direct talks were planned. Spokesman Esmaeil Bakaei stated,The US envoys are not here to negotiate with the Iranians.
Instead, Iran sent a technical delegation to discuss the release of frozen Iranian assets with Qatari intermediaries.Tehran is not yet in the phase of negotiations on a final agreement.
- US envoys Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Doha for talks with Qatari mediators.
- Trump claims Iran requested a direct meeting, expected Tuesday.
- Qatar and Iran deny any direct US-Iran meeting is planned; talks only with mediators.
- Senior US official reports positive discussions with regional leaders and technical progress with Iran.
A senior US administration official, however, described the discussions with regional leaders as positive and said technical talks with Iran were moving forward. The conflicting narratives highlight the delicate choreography of indirect diplomacy, with each side calibrating public messaging.
Framework and obstacles
The Doha consultations follow a framework agreement that gave both countries 60 days to resolve major sticking points: Iran's nuclear and missile programs, sweeping Western sanctions, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon. Washington included Lebanon in the framework at Tehran's insistence, a step that Israel has fiercely opposed.
Lebanon and Hezbollah
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, called on European powers to stand firmly with Lebanon's government to disarm the Iran-backed militia.
Prosor said the interests of Israel and Lebanon were, for the first time, fully aligned, and that the armed group was on the back foot.The Europeans must now support the Lebanese government with all their strength to prevail against Hezbollah and thereby end Iran's stranglehold. It is about nothing less than the historic chance for peace in the region.
What's next
The indirect talks are expected to continue through Qatari channels, with both US and Iranian delegations remaining in Doha for now. No direct session has been scheduled, but the US side expressed cautious optimism about technical progress. The 60-day clock is running, with only a few weeks left to bridge deep gaps on sanctions relief, nuclear limits, and the Lebanon track.
