TEHRAN (Realist English). Iran has once again denied reports of forthcoming talks with the United States in Qatar, stating that its delegation is heading to Doha not to meet with US officials, but to address the issue of repatriating frozen assets.
The Iranian statement came amid conflicting messages from Washington, where President Donald Trump claimed that Tehran had “requested a meeting” and that talks would take place on June 30 in the Qatari capital.
Iran Denies Talks
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that “no negotiations or meetings with the United States at any level are scheduled in the coming days.” “Our delegation’s visit to Qatar has absolutely no connection to the American side,” he stressed.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also confirmed that “no technical meetings are planned this week.” According to him, the first round of technical talks between working groups will only take place “when the necessary conditions are created and both sides agree on the time and place.”
The White House, however, insists otherwise. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner are heading to Doha for a meeting with the Iranian side.
“President Trump is determined to advance the peace process and calls on Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington,” she added.
Unfreezing $6 Billion: The Purpose of the Doha Visit
According to Iranian officials, the purpose of the delegation’s visit to Qatar is to monitor the implementation of commitments under the memorandum of understanding, particularly provisions concerning Iranian oil exports and the return of frozen assets.
On June 30, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion out of $12 billion in Iranian assets frozen in Qatar would be unfrozen and returned to the country. “Under the agreements reached, $6 billion out of the total $12 billion of Iranian funds held in Qatar will be unfrozen and returned to the country,” the president’s press service quoted him as saying.
Earlier, on June 21, a trilateral meeting between representatives of Iran, the US and Qatar was reported, dedicated to a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. At the same time, information emerged that the US was prepared to give Iran access to $6 billion in exchange for allowing UN inspectors access to nuclear facilities.
Tehran insists on the sequential implementation of all points of the memorandum. As Baghaei stated, formal negotiations on a final agreement can only begin after the implementation of the provisions listed in points 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of the 14‑point memorandum, as well as after the US ensures full access to frozen assets.
Strait of Hormuz: Continuing Tensions
Disputes over the Strait of Hormuz remain one of the key points of tension. Earlier, on June 20, Iranian military officials announced the closure of the strait in response to Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, which Tehran regarded as a violation of the US-Iran agreement. Iran accused the US of failing to implement the first point of the memorandum on “immediate and final cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran had restored “sole control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days,” warning against attempts to create “parallel structures” for managing the strait.
Despite Tehran’s statements, US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied the closure of the strait, saying that “commercial shipping continues.” According to monitoring data, on June 29–30, 25 commercial vessels passed through the strait, including oil tankers and cargo ships.
The Lebanese Factor: Connection to the Talks
Lebanon remains a key element of the negotiation process. On June 21, the parties agreed on a “roadmap” to reach a final peace agreement within 60 days and to establish a mechanism for ending the war in Lebanon. However, Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and retaliatory shelling by Hezbollah continue.
Iran has linked the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to the cessation of the conflict in Lebanon. A source close to the Iranian negotiating team stated that Tehran would close the strait again if the war in Lebanon did not end.
Differences between Washington and Tehran persist. The US insists on holding talks in Doha, while Iran denies them and states that its visit is solely for monitoring the unfreezing of assets.
Disputes over the management of the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Lebanon continue to be obstacles to stabilisation. As analysts note, contradictory statements from Washington and Tehran “add new uncertainty to diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.”