US-Iran indirect talks in Doha yield deal on frozen funds, communication channel as Trump hails 'very good' contacts

Background

The talks follow a memorandum of understanding signed by the presidents of both countries on June 17, after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar. That interim agreement aimed to end the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and launch a 60-day negotiation period for a permanent peace. The recent exchange of military strikes had threatened the ceasefire.

The Doha talks

On Tuesday, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to prepare the ground. The indirect technical talks on Wednesday did not include Witkoff or Kushner; Iran was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf did not attend. Qatar and Pakistan acted as mediators, holding separate meetings with each delegation.

Outcomes

According to Iran's IRNA news agency, the negotiations ended with an agreement allowing Iran to use part of its frozen funds in Qatar to purchase essential goods. Gharibabadi stated that goods would be acquired based on the country's needs, without detailing the mechanism.

“There was an agreement that, based on our country's needs, requested products will be acquired and made available to Iran.”

The two sides also agreed to set up a communication channel, operational within the day, to report and record any violations of the initial agreement. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesman noted that $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets had not yet been transferred to Tehran, and that this would depend on the progress of negotiations.

Trump's assessment

President Donald Trump described the contacts as "very good" and said "everything is going well." He claimed that "the denuclearization of Iran is progressing," adding, "we hit them very hard, but we understand each other very well."

“The denuclearization of Iran is progressing. We hit them very hard, but we understand each other very well.”

However, sources told Reuters that the nuclear program was not discussed in these technical talks. Iran continues to deny any direct negotiations with the American side.

Next steps

Qatar's foreign ministry welcomed "positive progress" and announced that the next round would take place after the funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on the first day of the war. Khamenei is to be buried on July 9. Serious disagreements remain, particularly over Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and the conflict in Lebanon.