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Vessels can be seen navigating the Strait of Hormuz from Musandam, Oman, on June 26, 2026, as captured by Reuters.
– President Trump states that discussions regarding Iran’s denuclearization are progressing smoothly.
– Sources report that Iran’s nuclear program was not a topic of conversation during the Doha talks.
– Iran indicates that the talks in Doha have wrapped up, with neither side claiming any significant breakthrough.
The United States and Iran wrapped up a round of indirect negotiations, but there was little indication of progress toward a durable peace. Instead, talks focused on issues previously resolved with the interim agreement announced two weeks earlier.
Insiders familiar with the negotiations revealed that representatives from both nations spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to unfreeze Iran’s assets—two key elements from the initial deal.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled after Iran’s funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, set for July 9, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.
The Doha discussions made “positive advances” on matters related to the memorandum that ended the war in June and built upon outcomes from a summit in Switzerland, the ministry’s spokesperson posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In Washington, President Trump claimed that both sides were making strides on potential restrictions to Iran’s nuclear activities, which was the primary motivation behind the recent conflict involving Israel and the U.S. in February.
“The denuclearization of Iran is progressing nicely,” Trump said. “They’re having very productive meetings, and we’ll see how it unfolds.”
However, sources clarified that nuclear issues were not a direct part of the recent discussions, which remained highly technical.
Vice President JD Vance added that nuclear matters will be addressed in future talks. “Of course, we’re concerned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and those discussions will begin soon,” he stated.
Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran separately met with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan, the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and high-level U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who traveled to the region for what the White House called “high-level” talks, did not participate in the sessions, according to an anonymous source.
Iran’s chief delegate, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, said the talks had concluded. Neither side disclosed whether they had managed to bridge any gaps.
### Who holds control of the Strait?
The initial agreement aimed to reopen shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled 20% of global oil and natural gas trade before the conflict. Although traffic has partially resumed, the status of this strategic waterway remains uncertain, especially after last weekend’s exchanges of strikes following Iran’s attack on a cargo vessel.
Iran is determined to secure international recognition of its control over the strait, even if that means using force. Two senior Iranian officials stated the country plans to start charging tolls on shipping in mid-August, after an agreed-upon toll-free period expires.
President Trump downplayed the possibility of a full-scale war with Iran, mentioning, “I think they’ve made significant progress.”
Following Trump’s remarks, oil prices dropped to their lowest in four months, and analysts revised their price forecasts downward for the first time since hostilities began.
Iranian state media reported that a foreign cargo ship ran aground outside the designated shipping route managed by Iran. Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights, noted that “Hormuz remains partially open, but the situation is inconsistent, unpredictable, and not fully transparent.”
While some European nations have offered to assist with clearing mines in the Strait, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated he does not expect Germany to participate, citing Iran’s reluctance to cooperate with other countries.
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