DOHA: Qatar has clarified that no direct negotiations or high-level meetings between the United States and Iran are scheduled to take place in Doha, despite Washington’s announcement that a senior American delegation had arrived in the Qatari capital.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said there were no planned face-to-face talks between US and Iranian officials in the coming days. He explained that the visiting American delegation would instead hold consultations with Qatari mediators on a range of regional issues.
Al Ansari confirmed that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were meeting with Qatari officials to discuss ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the situation involving Iran as well as developments in Lebanon. However, he stressed that the American representatives were not in Doha to negotiate directly with Iranian officials.
Meanwhile, Iran also rejected reports suggesting that technical discussions with the United States would take place in Qatar this week.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said media reports about planned technical talks in Doha were inaccurate. He stated that no meetings of the joint technical working groups had been scheduled and emphasized that consultations through mediator countries were continuing regarding the implementation of previous understandings.
According to Gharibabadi, the first round of technical negotiations will only be held after both sides agree on the necessary arrangements, including the timing and location of the meetings.
His remarks came as US President Donald Trump maintained that technical-level discussions would be held in Doha on Tuesday, highlighting the differing public positions taken by Washington and Tehran regarding the status of the negotiations.
Iranian officials also reiterated that any future discussions would proceed only after the required conditions are met and that consultations with mediator countries, including Qatar, remain ongoing.
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