U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran would take place in Qatar on Tuesday, but Iranian officials gave conflicting signals over whether technical negotiations were formally scheduled.
The conflicting accounts came after days of reciprocal attacks raised doubts over a fragile memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran on June 17.
Trump said the meeting would be held in Doha after Tehran had “requested talks”. A senior Iranian official said there were “no planned meetings” with US officials from technical teams in the Qatari capital this week.
The diplomatic dispute followed renewed military action around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that has become the focus of the confrontation between Washington and Tehran over the weekend.
US Central Command struck Iranian military sites on Saturday after accusing Tehran of targeting a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then hit US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday, according to the account of events published alongside the live updates.
Iran has said the renewed US attacks violate the memorandum of understanding. Tehran has also insisted that ships use Iran-approved routes through the waterway, opposing an alternative route closer to Oman recommended by the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the agreement gives Tehran control over arrangements for safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz for a limited period. Speaking at a news conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, he urged “all parties not to interfere” in the waterway’s management.
