The United States and Iran conducted technical negotiations in Doha on Wednesday aimed at finalizing the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and achieving a durable ceasefire, according to a source with direct knowledge of the talks and an Iranian official.
Kushner and Witkoff Meet Qatari PM to Set Stage
U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatar's prime minister—a mediator in the talks alongside Pakistan—to lay the groundwork for the negotiations, the source said. However, Kushner and Witkoff did not attend the discussions themselves.
Interim Accord Basis for Talks
The talks are founded on a 14-point interim accord signed last month, which was intended to halt the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement also set up 60 days of negotiations for a permanent peace deal. Despite this, the U.S. and Iran have publicly sparred over the meaning of the interim pact, leading to tit-for-tat strikes over the past week.
Iran Seeks Recognition of Control Over Strait
Iran is determined to win international recognition of its control over the strait and its ability to levy fees on ships entering or leaving the Gulf, even if it must do so by force, two senior Iranian sources said on Wednesday. Traffic has partially resumed through the strait, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war.
Focus on Hormuz Management and Frozen Assets
The Doha talks are structured as sessions between chief negotiators and specialists, the source said. They began on Tuesday night and continued on Wednesday, according to the Iranian official. Iran has publicly stated that its priorities include agreeing on management of the strait and the release of $6 billion in Iranian frozen assets. The Iranian official said the current round would focus on these two issues. The stated U.S. priority is to ensure the free flow of traffic through the strait, the source said. Iran's state media reported on Wednesday that a foreign container ship had run aground in the Strait of Hormuz after entering shallow waters outside the shipping route designated by Iranian authorities.
Oil Market Impact
"Hormuz continues to reopen but it’s patchy, unpredictable, and not fully transparent," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights. The war triggered Iranian attacks on Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases and killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, while pushing up oil and fuel prices. Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, after falling in previous days when the Iranian and U.S. strikes and counter-strikes were halted.
Broader Conflict and Lebanon Track
The interim deal also provides for an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The U.S. has backed a separate track of talks between Israel and Lebanon’s government, which produced a framework security deal that Hezbollah has dismissed. Analysts warn this could entrench a stalemate in Lebanon. There had been intensive diplomatic activity on Lebanon between parties including the U.S. up to Tuesday evening, the source said.
