US and Iran hold Doha talks over Strait of Hormuz access and peace framework

The United States and Iran began technical discussions in Doha on Wednesday aimed at resolving disputes over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a more durable ceasefire, according to an Iranian official and a source familiar with the negotiations.

The talks follow efforts by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, who met Qatar’s prime minister to help prepare the negotiations. Qatar and Pakistan are serving as mediators in the process, though Kushner and Witkoff were not expected to participate directly in the discussions.

The negotiations are based on a 14-point interim agreement signed last month that was intended to end the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The deal called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching 60 days of talks aimed at reaching a permanent peace arrangement.

More from World

However, disagreements over how to interpret the agreement have intensified tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides carrying out retaliatory strikes over the past week.

Iran is seeking international recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz and its ability to impose charges on ships passing through the key waterway, even if it must use force to enforce those demands, two senior Iranian sources said.

Shipping activity through the strait has resumed partially after the conflict disrupted the route, which previously carried around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Hormuz and frozen funds dominate discussions

The Doha negotiations are being conducted through meetings between senior negotiators and technical experts, the source familiar with the talks said. The discussions began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, according to the Iranian official.

Tehran has publicly identified two main priorities: securing an arrangement for management of the Strait of Hormuz and obtaining the release of $6 billion in Iranian assets currently frozen abroad.

The Iranian official said those issues would be central to the latest round of talks, while Washington’s main objective is to ensure uninterrupted freedom of navigation through the strait.

Iranian state media reported on Wednesday that a foreign container ship had run aground after entering shallow waters outside the shipping route approved by Iranian authorities.

“Hormuz continues to reopen but it’s patchy, unpredictable, and not fully transparent,” said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis firm Vanda Insights.

The conflict had triggered Iranian attacks on Gulf countries hosting U.S. military facilities, killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon and contributed to higher oil and fuel prices.

Lebanon diplomacy adds another layer

Trump is under pressure to limit the economic consequences of the conflict ahead of November’s US midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Iran’s leadership survived the fighting but faces growing domestic frustration over economic hardship.

Oil prices, which had already declined sharply in the second quarter, fell more than 1% on Wednesday.

The US-Iran interim agreement also includes provisions aimed at ending a separate confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon.

Washington has supported a parallel negotiation process between Israel and Lebanon’s government that resulted in a proposed security framework. Hezbollah has rejected the arrangement, while analysts have warned that it could strengthen Israel’s position in southern Lebanon.

Diplomatic efforts over Lebanon intensified until Tuesday evening, involving multiple parties including the United States, according to the source familiar with the discussions.

With inputs from agencies