Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, confirmed today that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Doha. They are meeting with mediators and Qatari officials to discuss a range of regional issues.
According to Ansari, discussions with the US delegation will cover Iran and other topics, including Lebanon. He explicitly stated, "They are not here to negotiate with Iran."
Both the US and Iran had previously indicated they would send officials to Qatar to discuss a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. However, spokesperson Ansari clarified that there are no plans for high-level meetings or direct negotiations between the two sides in Doha.
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Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari. Photo: Doha News |
"No high-level Iranian delegation is currently here," the official stated, explaining that an Iranian technical delegation would arrive based on the progress of the negotiations.
Technical negotiations, involving lower-level officials to address specific details, will cover topics related to: nuclear issues, economic matters, state operations, and security concerns.
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced its representatives would engage only with Qatar on 1/7 regarding the implementation of the MoU, including provisions for releasing Tehran's frozen assets. Esmaeil Baqaei, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, also dismissed the possibility of a meeting with the US delegation in the Gulf nation.
Qatar initially declined to mediate when Iran conducted large-scale attacks on Gulf states in response to US and Israeli airstrikes. However, Qatar has taken on a more active role in the negotiation process since the parties reached a ceasefire in April.
On 17/6, the US and Iran signed a 14-point MoU, hoping to establish a roadmap to end the conflict that erupted in late February. Both sides agreed to allocate at least 60 days to implement the MoU's provisions, discuss Iran's nuclear program, and negotiate a long-term ceasefire agreement.
However, the process has stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreed terms. Subsequently, the US and Iran engaged in retaliatory attacks.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
