Iran and the United States concluded a round of indirect talks in Qatar's Doha on Wednesday, with no breakthrough on a lasting peace. The discussions centered on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iranian funds, two critical issues under the interim agreement announced two weeks ago, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Positive progress but nuclear program absent
Qatar's Foreign Ministry said the talks produced "positive progress" on issues related to the memorandum that halted the war in June and were "building on the outcomes" of a summit in Switzerland. The ministry spokesperson stated this in a post on X. However, sources confirmed that Iran's nuclear program did not come up in the technical discussions, contrary to earlier statements by US President Donald Trump.
Trump told reporters in Washington, "The denuclearization of Iran is moving along well. They've had very good meetings, and we'll see." But the sources said the nuclear issue was not part of the agenda. US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the matter would be addressed later, saying, "Obviously, we're worried about the nuclear issue, we're going to start talking about that."
Next meeting after Khamenei's burial
Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced that the next meeting will take place after the funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is scheduled to be buried on July 9. The indirect talks involved American and Iranian negotiators holding separate meetings with Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
Notably, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US envoy Steve Witkoff, whom the White House had dispatched for "high-level" talks, did not attend the sessions, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran's delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who confirmed the talks concluded without specifying whether differences had been bridged.
Strait of Hormuz control remains contentious
The initial deal calls for Iran and the United States to allow shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquid natural gas trade before the war. Although traffic has partially resumed, the status of the strategic waterway remains unclear. The two countries exchanged strikes last weekend following an Iranian attack on a cargo ship.
Two senior Iranian sources said Iran is determined to win international recognition of its control over the strait, even if it has to do so by force. Iran has repeatedly said it will assess tolls on shipping starting in mid-August, after a toll-free period specified by the initial agreement expires. Iran's state media reported on Wednesday that a foreign container ship had run aground in shallow waters outside the designated shipping route.
Oil prices fall, analysts cut forecasts
Trump's comments on Wednesday played down the possibility of a return to all-out war with Iran. "I think they've come a long way," he said. Oil prices fell to their lowest level in four months following Trump's remarks, and analysts cut their price forecasts for the first time since the war began. Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights, said, "Hormuz continues to reopen but it's patchy, unpredictable, and not fully transparent."
Several European countries have offered to help clear mines from the Strait, but Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he did not expect his country to participate, citing Iran's unwillingness to cooperate with other nations.
