Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Qatar: No direct talks between US and Iran today

There will be no direct talks between the US and Iran in Doha in the coming days, a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry said, according to several news agencies.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in the Qatari capital, but their meetings will be held with Qatari mediators - not with Iranian representatives, according to Reuters.

The announcement comes after conflicting reports during the day about whether a direct meeting between the US and Iran would take place. The development follows several days of escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ceasefire that the countries agreed to last week.

Sources: Witkoff to Meet Iranian Delegation on Tuesday

On Tuesday night, sources told CNN that Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is on his way to the Qatari capital Doha to hold talks with an Iranian negotiating delegation during the day.

Trump had previously said that Iran had requested a meeting in Doha on Tuesday. But that information was first denied by Tehran, before it completely reversed course and announced that a delegation had been sent to Qatar.

The news of the meeting comes after the countries have exchanged attacks on each other around the Strait of Hormuz for several days, despite the ceasefire agreement signed last week, writes the BBC.

Top Democrat doubts Trump's optimism about a deal

Adam Smith, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives, is doubtful that Iran will agree to a long-term agreement with the US to open the Strait of Hormuz. He says this in an interview with CNN.

– It's just that they say everything is going well, that Iran will agree to everything they want, and I doubt it, says Smith about the American administration.

Two weeks ago, Iran and the United States signed a peace agreement that stipulates that a longer agreement should be signed within 60 days. Despite this, attacks between the countries have continued in recent days.

On Tuesday, the United States and Iran are to meet for talks in the Qatari capital Doha, according to CNN.