U.S. and Iran Hold Closed-Door Indirect Talks in Doha, in Tug-of-War Over the Strait of Hormuz and Frozen Assets

[Financial News] The United States and Iran have begun indirect working-level talks in Doha, Qatar, with mediators in between. The two sides are reported to have focused on lifting Iran's frozen assets and on the issue of passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to AFP and other reports on the 1st local time, working-level delegations from the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Doha that day under the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan.
A diplomatic source told AFP, "Building on the progress made by U.S. and Iranian officials at the summit on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, indirect working-level talks have begun in Doha," adding, "Qatar and Pakistan are serving as mediators."
An Iranian senior official also said, "The indirect talks began on Tuesday night," and explained, "Iran first met with the Qatari and Pakistani sides, and then those mediators met with the U.S. side again."
The two sides are said to have focused on the release of Iran's frozen overseas assets and the Strait of Hormuz issue during the talks.
The Iranian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, paid a courtesy visit to the Qatari prime minister before continuing working-level consultations with the mediators.
By contrast, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Middle East envoy Steven Charles Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani the previous day, but did not attend the working-level talks. The two later met with the Emir of Qatar to discuss the U.S.-Iran negotiations and the situation in Lebanon.
Diplomatic sources said the United States is making guarantees of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz its top priority in the talks, while also pursuing diplomatic efforts over Lebanon.
However, Iran and Qatar drew a line under the possibility of a high-level meeting.
In a briefing the previous day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, "No talks of any level with the United States are planned for the next few days," adding, "In Doha, we plan to discuss implementation of the memorandum of understanding with the Qatari side, especially the provisions on releasing frozen assets."
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari also said, "No high-level talks between the United States and Iran are scheduled," adding, "A high-level meeting will be held only if the working-level consultations produce results."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter