Iran has denied plans to resume discussions regarding a peace agreement with the United States. While the U.S. announced a high-level meeting in Doha, Qatar, on June 30, Iranian officials stated that verifying preliminary measures outlined in a memorandum of understanding is the priority and that they are not ready to enter final agreement discussions.
On June 29, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told Reuters, AP, and the Iranian state news agency IRNA that "there are no meetings scheduled with the U.S. at any level in the coming days." He added that an Iranian expert delegation is expected to visit Qatar this week, but emphasized that the purpose is not dialogue with the U.S. but to ensure commitments regarding oil sales and access to frozen assets are being honored.
Baghaei stated, "Iran's current top priority is to ensure the terms of the memorandum are upheld," and noted that discussions on a final agreement would depend on the initiation and maintenance of key preliminary measures. Iran insists that the U.S. must first lift maritime blockades, normalize navigation, ease sanctions, and grant access to frozen assets before moving to the next stage.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also confirmed through IRNA that there are no technical working group meetings scheduled for this week. He mentioned that while contacts through intermediary countries continue, working group meetings will only occur once necessary conditions are met and dates and locations are agreed upon.
In contrast, the U.S. has presented a different perspective. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran requested the meeting and that discussions would take place in Doha on June 30. The White House also confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to attend the high-level meeting this week.
The conflicting statements from both sides highlight ongoing differences in interpreting the peace memorandum signed on June 17. The U.S. views the Doha meeting as a starting point for follow-up discussions, while Iran sees it as a process to assess the fulfillment of commitments regarding the release of frozen assets and management of the Hormuz Strait.
On the same day, the Iranian government announced that $6 billion of the $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar is set to be released. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian characterized this as a "result of the memorandum" and stated that efforts are underway to recover the remaining funds.
The management of the Hormuz Strait remains a contentious issue. Iran maintains that reopening the strait and ensuring safety is its responsibility, while the U.S. and some Western nations emphasize the importance of freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial shipping.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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