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Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will discuss the state of negotiations with mediators
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Tehran has said its negotiators will not sit down for peace talks with the US until all the points in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) have been upheld.
Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Qatar to meet mediators, but Iran has insisted no direct talks are on the table.
“There is no high level meeting between the US and Iran planned,” Qatar said on Tuesday, in another sign that the peace process was stalling.
The MoU is made up of 14 points, including the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days and the US terminating any sanctions against Iran.
Speaking on Tuesday, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said any current meetings are being held with the intention of seeing MoU commitments met, and warned safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz has only been agreed for 60 days.
Iran and the US had traded attacks in the Gulf in recent days as each accused the other of violating an interim deal signed less than two weeks ago to end their four-month war.
US delegates have travelled to Doha to take part in peace talks, according to president Donald Trump – despite Iranian officials saying no such talks are scheduled.
It comes after both sides traded strikes over the Strait of Hormuz at the end of last week, risking the fragile ceasefire that had been settled just two weeks ago.
Both sides had recently traded attacks in the Gulf, each accusing the other of violating the earlier deal.
Iran claimed a joint missile and drone operation targeting US military sites, while the US had struck Iran after a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraq will hold a funeral procession for Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack at the beginning of the Iran war. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named his successor.
“During my visit to Baghdad, I met with a number of senior Iraqi officials.
“As is the case in Iran, Iraq is preparing to hold a grand public funeral procession for His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in an event that will undoubtedly go down in history and contribute to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and the deep-rooted ties between our two countries and peoples”, Araghchi wrote on X.
Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha Tuesday.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the ongoing talks between the US and Iran “within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the two parties were reviewed”.
“The meeting also addressed the latest regional developments, particularly the ceasefire in the sisterly Republic of Lebanon, and stressed the importance of consolidating it and building upon it in a way that preserves Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and stability”, the ministry’s statement read.
US security chief Markwayne Mullin has drawn criticism after he said he “danced a happy dance” when Iran were eliminated from the World Cup.
The Iranian team exited the tournament in heartbreaking fashion when they were denied a late winner against Egypt by VAR, which deemed goalscorer Shoja Khalilzadeh’s toes offside.
The 1-1 draw saw Iran finish third in Group G, and they narrowly missed out on one of eight spots in the knockout rounds for third-placed teams, falling short on goal difference.
Mullin, who runs the US Department of Homeland Security, told reporters: “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.’
He added: “There wasn’t a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran.”
But Iranian officials said the comments “demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event”.
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Donald Trump has again insisted that gas prices must come down now that a fragile memorandum of understanding has been signed with Iran.
The president has repeatedly called for the cost of gas to go down in recent weeks, after the war he began with Israel at the end of February sent prices soaring.
“Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Monday.
“They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south. The Retailers must quickly react to this statement, and do what they know is right – DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal.”
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Tehran has added a 20 per cent mark up on its oil sales, the country’s top negotiator has said.
It comes as he warned the US that if it “intends to deprive Iran of selling oil, nobody will benefit from oil”.
US negotiators are currently in Doha for peace talks, but Tehran has said no discussions are scheduled to take place.
Iran’s top negotiator has said the sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies only with Iran and Oman as he warned safe passage in the Strait is only agreed for 60 days.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that traffic in the key shipping route is only allowed as Tehran dictates.
He added Iran has exported 40 million barrels of oil since the US lifted its Navy blockade in the area.
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