US-Iran talks continue in Qatar as Washington avoids new war
Indirect negotiations in Qatar focus on the Strait of Hormuz while Washington faces criticism over its military campaign alongside Israel
DOHA, Qatar (MNTV) – Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran continued in Qatar as both sides sought to advance a fragile ceasefire framework, with US Vice President JD Vance saying Washington would avoid another military confrontation unless it considered one unavoidable.
The talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, follow a 14-point interim agreement reached last month after months of conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The temporary accord halted large-scale fighting, reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and established a 60-day timetable for negotiations on a permanent settlement.
Speaking during a visit to Virginia, Vance said President Donald Trump had instructed American officials to pursue diplomacy rather than another war, although he stopped short of ruling out future military action.
He described the technical discussions in Doha as progressing positively, with negotiators initially concentrating on maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz before turning to Iran’s nuclear program.
Despite the diplomatic engagement, major disagreements remain unresolved. Tehran has repeatedly insisted on international recognition of its authority over the strategic waterway and continues to demand the release of approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets, while Washington maintains that uninterrupted international shipping remains its principal objective.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi led Tehran’s delegation, accompanied by officials from the Foreign Ministry, Central Bank and Ministry of Agriculture.
The delegation met senior Qatari officials and mediators to review implementation of the interim agreement and prepare for broader negotiations.
Sources familiar with the discussions said former White House adviser Jared Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff met Qatar’s leadership before the talks to help facilitate the diplomatic process, although neither participated directly in the negotiations.
President Trump claimed that efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program were progressing, while also defending last month’s US military attacks, which formed part of a wider campaign carried out in coordination with Israel and sharply escalated regional tensions.
The conflict, launched after joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran, left thousands dead, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, displaced large numbers of civilians and disrupted global energy markets.
Critics argue that Washington’s unwavering support for Israel and repeated reliance on military force have fuelled instability across the Middle East rather than advancing lasting peace.
The interim agreement also includes provisions aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon, where intensive diplomatic contacts have continued alongside separate US-backed security negotiations.
Analysts, however, have warned that some proposed arrangements risk legitimizing Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon instead of addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
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