US and Iran to send delegations to Qatar amid dispute over frozen assets and talks framework

The United States and Iran are sending delegations to Qatar for indirect technical talks following a pause in military strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claims $6 billion in frozen assets will be released, U.S. officials assert that no funds will be distributed until Tehran meets specific milestones under their interim agreement. Tensions remain high as Iran rejects direct talks and disputes arise over demining efforts and proposed transit fees in the strait.

US-Iran Qatar delegation dispute

• ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied that any direct negotiation meetings with the United States were scheduled.
• ▪United States negotiators Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Doha, Qatar, for the scheduled technical talks.
• ▪United States and Iranian technical teams will hold separate, indirect negotiations through Qatari mediators in Doha.
• ▪The United States and Iran separately announced they will send delegations to Qatar for talks during the week of June 29, 2026.

Strait of Hormuz attacks

• ▪Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned France against demining the Strait of Hormuz, asserting only Iran has that authority.
• ▪The United States and Iran paused their military strikes on June 29, 2026, following four days of trading attacks in the Persian Gulf.
• ▪Iran launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on June 28, 2026, drawing retaliatory American airstrikes.

$6 billion frozen assets release

• ▪Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion of $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar would be released to Iran.
• ▪A United States administration official stated that no frozen funds have been released and will only be distributed incrementally as Iran meets milestones.
• ▪The structured relief funds, once released, are designated for Iranian humanitarian purchases of United States goods.

Strait transit fees proposal

• ▪Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi stated that Oman opposes transit fees on ships as they are internationally forbidden.
• ▪Oman and Iran are considering charging service-related fees for commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Interim deal uranium sanctions

• ▪The interim agreement waives United States-backed oil sanctions on Iran and calls for free traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
• ▪The United States and Iran signed an interim agreement in June 2026 requiring Tehran to dilute its enriched uranium stockpile.

Lebanon southern border deployment

• ▪The Israel-Lebanon agreement, signed on June 26, 2026, requires the disarmament of Hezbollah before Israel withdraws its troops.
• ▪Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced Lebanon's determination to deploy troops along its southern border as part of a framework agreement with Israel.

3 sources