US-Iran war coverage live: Qatar reaffirms role as mediator as Iran insists it must not meet US envoys | Today’s news

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani confirmed his country’s continued mediation efforts and its support for all lines of talks arising from the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. His words came at a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, where they discussed the development of the ongoing US-Iran talks.

This comes even as Iran says it will not meet with US envoys, dimming prospects for lasting peace between the two countries.

Iranian officials also said the two sides still had to work out the terms of a truce they signed two weeks ago before they could tackle more complex issues, such as possible curbs on its nuclear program.

“No meeting with the American side at any level is planned for the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

The two countries were to start technical negotiations at a lower level.

Iran insisted on controlling the Strait of Hormuz along with Oman and ruled out third-party intervention in removing mines there.

“The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the strait is subject to the measures set by Iran,” said Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf.

Traffic in the strait dropped over the weekend after a vessel was hit while passing through the waterway on Saturday.

Iran said it would monitor the United States’ compliance with the memorandum of understanding to end the war “immediately” and warned that the Islamic Republic would not fulfill its obligations unilaterally.

Iran also insisted that Lebanon be part of the peace deal and that Israeli troops withdraw from the southern parts of the country.

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