Qatar: No Direct US-Iran Talks Planned Despite Mediation
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- Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators from Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman are in "very progressive stages" of trying to reignite US-Iran talks, but spokesperson Majed al-Ansari confirmed there is "nothing on the books as far as direct talks."
- Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai denied any direct US engagement, saying Tehran's only negotiations are with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and called an agreement "necessary but not sufficient" while the US blockade of Iranian ports remains.
- President Trump claimed he called off a "massive attack" after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar urged restraint to allow mediation on the strait and Iran's denuclearization, then asserted on Truth Social that more talks were scheduled in the "immediate future."
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged progress but said no final agreement had been reached, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC a deal could come "today or tomorrow" — a forecast at odds with Tehran's posture.
- The Liberia-flagged Minoan Pioneer was struck by an unknown projectile in the Gulf with one sailor missing, per UKMTO and maritime risk firm Vanguard, underscoring the danger as mediation continues.
- Iranian officials told the New York Times the proposed arrangement would route inbound shipping through an Iran-controlled lane and outbound through an Oman-controlled lane, plus a "service fee" — terms a US official called inaccurate, saying any temporary routes would not involve Iranian approval or tolls.
Why it matters: Three official voices now contradict key Trump claims: Iran's spokesman denies direct talks exist, Qatar's spokesperson says none are scheduled, and a US official has already rejected Iran's proposed toll structure — meaning even if a deal emerges from Omani channels, the two sides remain publicly divided on whether negotiations are happening and on what basic terms would apply.
