Trump says Iran requested meeting, Iranian negotiator says none scheduled

President Donald Trump posted on social media on Monday that Iran had requested a meeting with U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar, slated for Tuesday. Iran’s senior negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi told the state-run IRNA news agency that no such meeting had been scheduled.

The statement comes as the interim nuclear agreement reached earlier this month, which limits Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile and lifts certain U.S. sanctions, faces pressure from recent attacks in the Persian Gulf. The deal also aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about one-fifth of global oil shipments.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi announced that Qatar would release $6 billion of frozen Iranian assets, describing the interim deal as a “great victory for the Iranian people.” Qatar and U.S. officials have not confirmed any transfer of funds.

Technical talks, involving lower-level diplomats, were expected to continue in Doha, but Gharibabadi said media reports about such discussions were unverified. Pakistan, another mediator, indicated talks could resume on Tuesday.

Trump highlighted that U.S. oil futures were trading near $69 a barrel, attributing the price level to the interim agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The region remains volatile after Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait and targeted a tanker carrying Qatari crude, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes.