Witkoff, Kushner to discuss cease-fire with Iran in Qatar
by Lisa Hornung · UPIJune 30 (UPI) -- American and Iranian delegates are arriving in Doha, Qatar, for "technical talks" Tuesday to discuss the memorandum of understanding that created a cease-fire between the two countries.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday that these are not high-level talks.
Unlike the recent talks in Switzerland with Vice President JD Vance and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, these will be led by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. They will not meet in person and the talks will be mediated by Qatari officials. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is expected to participate.
The discussions will "produce documents that will be elevated to principles in the high-level meetings to agree upon," al-Ansari said.
Some of the topics expected to come up are: Financial restrictions and lifting sanctions on Iran, how to establish the free flow of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the future of Iran's nuclear program, the potential release of Iran's frozen assets and regional security, CNN reported.
A recent uptick in attacks in the strait could make the talks more contentious.
Iran insists that the MOU gives it authority over the strait and has threatened ships that don't travel on Iranian-mandated routes.
"If vessels pass through other routes, we will oppose it, we will try to prevent it, and if anything happens to those vessels, the responsibility will be their own," Gharibabadi said on Monday, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday that the discussions will be about the MOU.
"What will probably take place in Doha tomorrow is a discussion with the Qatari side on the implementation of some provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including the provision concerning the release of Iran's restricted assets," Baghaei said.
This week in Washington
White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition 2026 Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo