Uncertainty surrounded US-Iran diplomatic efforts on Tuesday after President Donald Trump stated that talks with Tehran would occur in Doha, while Iranian officials denied any meeting with Washington had been arranged.
Addressing reporters in Washington, Trump said discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme were planned in Qatar the following day as part of efforts toward denuclearisation. He added that Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons and claimed Tehran had agreed to this position.
Trump’s comments followed a post on his social media platform the previous day asserting that Iran had requested the meeting in Doha, without naming participants.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson quickly dismissed the claim, stating no negotiations with the United States were planned in the coming days at any level.
The conflicting statements have raised questions about the status of engagement between the two countries as they seek to uphold a fragile ceasefire after months of conflict.
According to reports, the United States intends to send presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to lead its delegation, while Iran is dispatching a technical team to Qatar. Iranian officials maintained that the team’s visit was unrelated to any American presence and should not be seen as bilateral talks.
Despite the denials, a senior Iranian official indicated a meeting in Doha was still expected on Tuesday, focusing on reducing tensions and ensuring stability in the Strait of Hormuz rather than earlier technical issues discussed in Switzerland.
Separate meetings between American and Iranian technical teams with Qatari and Pakistani mediators were also anticipated on Wednesday.
The confusion follows recent missile and drone exchanges that tested an interim ceasefire ending a four-month conflict. The United States accused Iran of attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and conducted strikes on Iranian military sites, while Iran targeted US installations in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The ceasefire forms part of a broader understanding allowing time to address Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security. Uneven implementation has led to mutual accusations of violations, and doubts over the Doha talks have heightened concerns about the agreement’s durability and wider regional stability efforts.
