Trump announces Iran-requested meeting set for Doha

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran has requested a meeting set to take place in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday, despite Tehran earlier denying that such talks were scheduled.

Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote:

“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!”

Shortly after his statement, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be travelling to Doha for high-level discussions later this week.

However, Iran’s foreign ministry earlier on Monday rejected reports suggesting that Iranian and US technical teams would meet to discuss implementing a deal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict. The ministry said no such arrangements had been finalized.

The conflicting statements come amid renewed uncertainty over diplomatic efforts following recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran. The tensions persist despite an April ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding reportedly brokered by Pakistan and Qatar to stabilize the situation and work toward a longer-term settlement.

A diplomat familiar with the discussions told AFP that US and Iranian officials are expected to meet in Doha in the coming days to discuss implementation of the agreement. Speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, the diplomat said technical teams working on the memorandum’s execution are scheduled to convene in Qatar.

The diplomat also noted that communication channels established to prevent escalation remain active, aimed at managing and de-escalating incidents following recent cross-border strikes between the two sides.

While official positions remain unclear, the overlapping claims highlight ongoing fragility in diplomatic efforts to stabilize tensions between Washington and Tehran.