Iran’s top negotiators have arrived in Doha for high-stakes talks with the United States, amid cautious optimism over a possible agreement. Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reached the Qatari capital today for discussions focused on key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iran’s Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati is also part of the delegation, with Tehran’s frozen funds expected to figure in the negotiations.
Both Washington and Tehran said progress is being made towards a framework agreement, but downplayed hopes of an immediate breakthrough. Iran said no agreement with the United States was imminent despite positive developments in talks.
US President Donald Trump said any deal with Iran must be “great and meaningful”, adding that there would otherwise be no agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would give diplomacy every opportunity before considering other options.
Iran is reportedly demanding the immediate release of 12 billion US dollars in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition for continuing talks with the United States. The issue of frozen funds is currently the main obstacle to advancing discussions on a potential memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington and Iran is seeking the full unfreezing of its overseas assets as part of any comprehensive agreement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiators have made progress on several areas through mediated talks, but stressed that significant differences remain and a final agreement is not yet within reach. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has added new conditions to the diplomatic process, saying countries including Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey should join the Abraham Accords as part of any broader regional settlement linked to a future Iran deal. He described the talks with Tehran as “proceeding nicely”.
On the ground, regional tensions continue despite ongoing diplomacy. Israel’s military has issued new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon, including areas outside its current zone of control, raising fresh concerns over the fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah. The US-mediated truce, which began on April 16 and has been extended into mid-May, has reduced large-scale fighting, but both sides continue to trade accusations of violations.
