Qatar has announced that indirect talks between the United States and Iran have made “positive progress,” raising hopes that diplomatic efforts could help ease tensions between the two longtime rivals.
The discussions, held in Doha, were conducted through Qatari and Pakistani mediators, with American and Iranian delegations meeting separately rather than face to face. According to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the latest round of negotiations focused on implementing issues related to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with both sides agreeing to continue discussions.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the meetings built on previous diplomatic engagements and described the outcome as constructive. He added that another round of talks would be scheduled as soon as possible after the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States was represented by senior officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, who met with mediators instead of directly engaging with the Iranian delegation, in keeping with the format of the negotiations.
Speaking in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump described the Doha meetings as “very good” and expressed optimism about the diplomatic process.
“As far as things are going, the denuclearization of Iran is moving along well,” Trump told reporters. “They’ve had very good meetings and we’ll see.”
However, sources familiar with the talks told CNN that the discussions were primarily technical and did not directly address Iran’s nuclear programme during this round of negotiations. Instead, negotiators focused on practical issues tied to the existing agreement, including efforts to reduce tensions surrounding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance also offered an upbeat assessment, saying the talks were “going well” while indicating that discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme are expected to begin in future rounds.
“It’s still pretty early, but talks are going well,” Vance said, adding that technical negotiators were working through key details with the assistance of Qatari mediators.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most sensitive issues between Washington and Tehran. The narrow waterway carries roughly one fifth of the world’s oil supply, making stability in the region critical to global energy markets. Progress in the talks helped ease concerns over potential disruptions to oil shipments, contributing to a decline in global crude oil prices.
While no major breakthrough or final agreement has been announced, Qatar’s assessment of “positive progress” suggests both sides remain committed to diplomacy despite longstanding disagreements. Officials from both countries have agreed to continue negotiations in the coming weeks, keeping open the possibility of broader discussions that could eventually include Iran’s nuclear programme and wider regional security concerns.
Source: CNN
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