DUBAI/WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) – Iranian and U.S. technical teams are expected to meet in Doha soon to discuss an interim peace deal, according to a source who spoke to Reuters. This meeting comes after recent retaliatory strikes threatened to undermine the delicate agreement.
Mediators have set up communication channels to help reduce tensions, and technical discussions are expected to continue, the informed source noted.
A high-ranking Iranian official mentioned that a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Doha. This time, the discussion will center on managing the Strait of Hormuz and reducing tensions, unlike previous talks held in Switzerland.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed via social media that a meeting would take place in Doha on Tuesday but did not provide further specifics.
On June 17, the U.S. and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum aimed at resolving four months of conflict. This agreement includes a commitment from both sides to stop hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.
The closure of this waterway had pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, contributing to global inflation and posing a political challenge for Trump in the lead-up to midterm elections, where he had been highlighting decreasing oil and gas prices in earlier posts.
The accord lays the groundwork for 60 days of deeper discussions on complex issues, such as Iran's nuclear program, although there have been conflicting interpretations of what was agreed upon.
RELEASE OF FROZEN IRANIAN ASSETS
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion out of $12 billion in assets frozen in Qatar will be released and returned to Iran following the accord, as reported by Iranian state media.
He described this memorandum, which includes exemptions on sanctions related to Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, as “a great victory for the Iranian people.”
The senior Iranian source stated that Tehran and Doha are in the final stages of sorting out the technicalities for the release of the first $6 billion of frozen assets, which will be given in two installments.
On Monday, oil prices climbed, with Brent crude futures rising nearly 1% as the weekend's tensions highlighted the fragility of the U.S.-Iran agreement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Doha this week for high-level talks alongside technical discussions.
“We are maintaining our commitment to the ceasefire. Any violence will be met with violence," added Leavitt.
However, indicating uncertainty around the interim deal, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that technical working group meetings were not on the schedule for this week, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
He mentioned that consultations with Qatar regarding the implementation of commitments from the other side were ongoing as usual.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was collaborating with Oman to reduce tensions in the Middle East and would work with partners to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have decided to work together with our partners to remove mines from the Strait to ensure safe maritime routes and guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron posted on X after meeting with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said at the Elysee Palace.
The discussions come after several days of strikes and counterstrikes, initiated when an Iranian projectile struck a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with accusations flying between the U.S. and Iran about violations of the ceasefire.
Iran has sought to assert control over shipping in the strait and launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday.
UNCERTAINTY OVER LATEST CEASEFIRE DEAL IN LEBANON
Kuwait's military reported that it was responding to missile and drone attacks, while Bahrain indicated that sirens were activated.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that U.S. strikes violated the ceasefire and warned that American bases in the region would “face severe consequences in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, Nabih Berri, Speaker of Lebanon's Parliament and an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah, expressed skepticism about a U.S.-brokered agreement intended to stop a parallel conflict there.
Berri cautioned on Monday that the deal might lead to attempts to divide Lebanon and suggested it would not be implemented.
The current conflict in Lebanon escalated after Hezbollah attacked Israel early in the conflict, claiming it was acting in support of Iran. Israel's response has resulted in mass displacement and over 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon.
Tehran has stated that ending the conflict and withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Lebanon are essential components of any agreement reached with the U.S. to resolve the larger war that began following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.