Trump Says Iran Has Requested Meeting with US in Doha

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has requested a meeting with the United States, which will take place on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. “Iran has asked for a meeting. The meeting will take place tomorrow in Doha,” Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday. Citing an unnamed US official, it was reported that the US and Iran have agreed to discuss shipping in the Strait of Hormuz during the meeting. However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied media reports about plans for Tehran and Washington to hold technical talks, saying no working group meeting is scheduled this week. “No technical working group meeting is scheduled for this week. Nevertheless, consultations with Qatar—including on fulfilling the other party’s obligations under the memorandum—are continuing,” Gharibabadi said. “However, media reports about technical talks between working groups in Doha remain unconfirmed,” he added, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency. Iran and the US will hold a technical meeting as soon as they agree on a time and place, Gharibabadi said. He stated that consultations between the two parties on this issue are continuing through intermediaries. On 18 June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum online governing the cessation of the military conflict that began on 28 February. The MoU also sets a deadline for the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and for Tehran to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also committed not to build nuclear weapons, with the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme to be resolved through a separate agreement. The parties will hold negotiations on this matter within 60 days. For Tehran, the expected outcome is the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions.