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Witkoff and Kushner Arrive in Doha for US-Iran Talks with Mediators
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reached Doha to discuss negotiations with Iran through Qatari and Pakistani mediators. No direct meetings with Iranian officials are scheduled in the coming days. The visit follows a four-day exchange of strikes over the Strait of Hormuz.
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US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Doha on or before 30 June 2026 to discuss US-Iran negotiations with mediators, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said. They will not meet Iranian officials during the visit. Majed al-Ansari told reporters that no high-level meetings or direct talks between the US and Iran are scheduled in the coming days.
The two sides agreed to stop attacking each other and send delegations to Qatar after a four-day exchange of strikes triggered by a dispute over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes threatened a preliminary agreement to end the four-month war between the US, Israel and Iran.
A memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan and Qatar less than two weeks earlier committed the countries to halt military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil and gas shipments.
The MoU gave the countries at least 60 days to reach a final deal covering Iran's nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent truce. The first round of talks took place in Switzerland a week before 30 June 2026, attended by US Vice-President JD Vance and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
Pakistani and Qatari mediators reported encouraging progress and said a communication line had been formed to enable safe passage of commercial vessels.
Iran attacked a cargo ship on 25 June 2026 after efforts to open Oman's territorial waters on the southern side of the strait. On 28 June 2026 a US official said both sides would stand down for now and vessels could move freely. Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied plans for technical talks that week.
