The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Iran will not hold talks with senior U.S. envoys who recently arrived in the region, a move that has cast doubt on prospects for a lasting peace agreement between the two countries, Reuters reported.
According to the report, Iranian officials said the two sides must first resolve outstanding issues related to a ceasefire agreed to two weeks ago before addressing more complex matters, including possible restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.
Reuters reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar for what the White House described as high-level talks. However, Iran and Qatar said the U.S. officials would meet with mediators rather than Iranian representatives.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said no meetings with U.S. officials had been scheduled in the coming days.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, said lower-level technical discussions between the two sides were expected to begin.
Reuters also reported that the current framework calls for Iran to ease restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives, while providing a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent peace agreement.
Meanwhile, the The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of additional military strikes with senior defense officials, although Reuters said it could not independently verify the report. According to the newspaper, Trump has decided for now to allow more time for diplomacy despite previously warning of further military action.
