Iran and the United States have moved another step forward in their fragile diplomatic process after indirect technical talks in Doha concluded. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Tehran’s delegation, said both sides agreed to create a communication channel by Thursday to report and record violations of their initial memorandum of understanding.
The talks focused on implementing the agreement designed to end the war that began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. However, Tehran continued to insist that no direct negotiations with Washington took place in Doha.
Iran Says Doha Talks Have Concluded
Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that the technical discussions in Qatar had ended. He said the main outcome was an agreement to establish a channel of communication that would allow both sides to document and raise alleged breaches of the memorandum of understanding.
Iran had made clear before the meetings that it would not hold direct negotiations with the United States in Doha. Tehran said the discussions were focused only on technical implementation of the agreement.
Trump Says Iran Denuclearization Is Progressing
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, U.S. President Donald Trump said the denuclearization of Iran was “moving along well.”
Trump added that the United States had hit Iran “very hard,” but claimed both sides were now “getting along very well.”
His comments came despite Iran’s denial of direct talks and continued tension surrounding the implementation of the ceasefire deal.
What the Memorandum of Understanding Includes
The memorandum of understanding was mediated by Qatar and Pakistan and finalized last month at a summit in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The agreement includes several major elements:
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Ceasefire | A 60-day truce between the sides |
| Strait of Hormuz | Reopening of the previously blockaded waterway |
| Final Deal Timeline | A schedule for negotiations on ending the war |
| Nuclear Program | Talks linked to Iran’s nuclear programme |
| Regional Issues | Discussion of conflict-related matters, including Lebanon |
Doha Talks Focused on Implementation
A diplomat told AFP that the Doha discussions were held at a lower technical level and were intended to build on progress made at the Lake Lucerne Summit.
The talks were not designed as full political negotiations. Instead, they focused on how to carry out the commitments already included in the memorandum.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei rejected Trump’s earlier claim that the talks would be direct. He said Iran had no plans to negotiate with the American side at any level in the coming days.
Frozen Iranian Assets Also Discussed
Gharibabadi said the talks also covered frozen Iranian assets, an issue Tehran has demanded be addressed in any settlement.
According to him, officials reviewed the use of part of an initial $6 billion and agreed that goods needed by Iran would be purchased and made available.
This shows that financial and humanitarian arrangements remain an important part of the wider negotiation process.
U.S. Envoys Met Qatari Leaders
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff did not participate in the technical talks, according to the diplomat.
However, they met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting covered U.S.-Iran negotiations and developments in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, Qatar’s emir’s office said Kushner and Witkoff also met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Analysts See Continued Engagement as Positive
Anna Jacobs, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said the negotiation process is still at a very early stage.
She noted that political battles are being fought both privately and publicly. However, she said the positive sign is that both sides are still engaging after last week’s clashes.
Ceasefire Faces Serious Pressure
Since the U.S.-Iran deal was signed last month, both sides have exchanged fire in the Gulf. These incidents have shown how difficult it may be to turn the temporary truce into a lasting peace agreement.
Iran targeted a commercial ship that it said had moved away from its approved route through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command later said it had struck 10 Iranian military targets.
Iran then attacked U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, prompting condemnation from both Gulf countries.
Iran Says Implementation Problems Are Expected
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that when a war of such scale ends, problems in implementation are expected.
He said incidents, disagreements and differences of opinion are inevitable, especially when parties such as Israel are involved.
Ghalibaf added that Iran’s delegation in Doha would focus on implementing clauses related to the Strait of Hormuz and the fighting in Lebanon.
Oil Markets React to Continued Diplomacy
The exchange of fire appeared to ease in the days leading up to the Qatar talks. Oil prices also fell as markets responded positively to continued engagement between the United States and Iran.
The easing of immediate tensions suggested that investors were taking some confidence from the fact that diplomacy had not collapsed.
Lebanon Conflict Remains Part of the Talks
The Lebanon front has also been relatively quiet recently, though tensions remain unresolved.
Iran-backed Hezbollah pulled Lebanon into the wider Middle East war in March by firing rockets at Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Tehran has repeatedly said that any final agreement should include an end to the Lebanon conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, where Israel continues to occupy part of the area.
The indirect technical talks in Doha show that Iran and the United States are still engaged in a fragile diplomatic process, even as both sides avoid direct negotiations. The agreement to create a communication channel by Thursday could help record and address violations of the memorandum of understanding.
However, continued ceasefire strains in the Gulf, disputes over frozen Iranian assets, the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and the unresolved Lebanon conflict show that a lasting settlement remains difficult. While the talks suggest progress, the road to a final deal is still uncertain and politically sensitive.