U.S. and Iran delegations arrive in Doha for tentative peace talks

U.S. and Iranian delegations gathered in Doha on Tuesday as part of efforts to revive a cease-fire and discuss a broader settlement after weeks of heightened tension in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said the parties would first need to implement the clauses of the interim deal, including the release of about $6 billion in frozen assets, before a final agreement could be negotiated.

"The communication channel between Iran and the U.S. is based on political factions, not military ones," spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters, adding that the interim deal must be fully applied before talks on a final accord can start.

U.S. officials indicated that the talks would proceed without a direct face-to-face meeting between the two governments, a stance Tehran described as a “shaky start.” The United States continues to press Iran to demonstrate compliance with the interim terms, while Iran warned against external interference in the Strait of Hormuz, describing such involvement as likely to complicate the situation.

The negotiations are being mediated by Qatar, which has said the $6 billion in Iranian funds held in the Gulf state has not yet been transferred to Tehran. Both sides expressed cautious optimism that the dialogue could reduce the risk of further escalation in the region.