Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the country’s prime minister, met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss ongoing US-Iran talks and regional developments.
The meeting, according to the ministry, reviewed the latest developments in negotiations between the United States and Iran under the framework of the memorandum of understanding between both sides, as well as efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.
Here’s what else to know:
- Tuesday’s meeting also addressed the ceasefire in Lebanon “and emphasized the importance of stabilizing it and building upon it to preserve Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and stability,” the ministry said.
- Qatar also said technical talks between Iran and the United States are continuing, but there are currently no high-level meetings between the two.
- Meanwhile, Iran says Qatar talks, set for Wednesday, will cover the implementation of Tehran’s agreement with the US, as well as its frozen assets, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tuesday.
- In Lebanon: Despite a US-brokered agreement signed Friday between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah operative in the Manzala area of southern Lebanon, near the “security zone” where Israeli forces were operating. The military said the individual posed a threat to its soldiers.
- In the Strait of Hormuz: At least 32 vessels have transited the vital waterway over the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data. Seventeen ships entered the Persian Gulf, including seven tankers and 10 cargo vessels, and an additional 15 ships exited the gulf.
- Oman recently delivered a proposal to the US and other allies on the future of the strait, according to a regional diplomat and a US source familiar with the matter.
- Iranian authorities plan to hold funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei from July 4 to July 9 across Iran and Iraq, months after his death. The delay has raised questions about the condition of his son and successor, and criticism from detractors who say the state is trying to inflate attendance.
Mohammed Tawfeeq, Eyad Kourdi, Dana Karni, Hira Humayun Avery Schmitz, Zachary Cohen, Aileen Graef and Nic Robertson contributed reporting.
