U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has “requested talks” and a meeting will take place Tuesday in Qatar, but Tehran is pushing back, with a senior Iranian official saying no meetings with U.S. “technical teams” have been scheduled in Doha this week.
The conflicting accounts come after days of reciprocal attacks raised fears over the future of an interim deal and shifted diplomatic attention toward the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.
Iranian officials say consultations with Qatar are continuing, but they have not confirmed any direct engagement with Washington this week.
Iran Denies Doha Meeting With U.S. Officials
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said no technical meetings with the U.S. side have been arranged in Qatar.
His comments directly challenge Trump’s claim that Tehran sought talks following the latest escalation. The U.S. president said the meeting would take place in Doha, Qatar’s capital, on Tuesday.
The discussions were originally expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear file. But according to the latest Iranian position, the agenda has shifted because of rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar has played a central role in recent diplomacy involving Iran and the United States, including talks linked to frozen Iranian funds and efforts to prevent further regional escalation.
Hormuz Tensions Shift Focus From Nuclear File
The Strait of Hormuz has now become the key point of disagreement between Washington and Tehran.
Iran says it will maintain control over the strait, arguing its authority comes from a memorandum of understanding. The United States rejects that position and says Iran should not control Hormuz, adding that ships must be allowed free passage.
The divide highlights the fragile state of diplomacy after the recent exchange of attacks. Both sides appear to be using Qatar as a channel, but they remain far apart on the core issue of maritime control.
Iran Says Frozen Funds Will Be Released
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said $6bn of the $12bn in frozen Iranian funds held by Qatar will be released and returned to Iran.
The announcement adds another layer to Qatar’s role in the dispute, as Doha remains involved in financial and diplomatic discussions tied to Tehran.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed three more Palestinians in Gaza, including a child, as the war in the Strip continued despite a U.S.-brokered “ceasefire”.
With Tehran denying any scheduled U.S. meeting and Washington publicly claiming talks are set, the next test will be whether Qatar’s consultations lead to direct diplomacy or further public contradictions between the two sides.
