CNN reported that Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, has departed for Doha just hours after the US president announced an upcoming meeting with representatives of the Islamic Republic in Qatar. However, officials of the Islamic Republic maintain that no negotiations with the United States are scheduled for the coming days.
Witkoff’s trip comes after Donald Trump’s earlier announcement that the United States would meet with representatives of the Islamic Republic on Tuesday in Qatar.
In contrast, officials of the Islamic Republic have rejected this claim. According to them, an Iranian expert delegation will travel to Doha later this week, but the visit is solely to follow up on the implementation of the terms of previous agreements, and no direct negotiations with the American delegation are on the agenda.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s negotiation team, also announced on Monday, June 29, that “no negotiating sessions at any level will be held with the American side in the coming days,” and that any potential travel by US officials to Qatar has no connection to the visit of the Iranian expert delegation.
Rejecting Trump’s claim, Baghaei stated that the priority of the Islamic Republic is “following up on the implementation of the terms of the memorandum of understanding and ensuring the fulfillment of commitments by the other party,” rather than launching a new round of negotiations.
