The United States and Iran are expected to hold their next round of direct talks in Doha during the third week of July to advance implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Pakistani government sources told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
Focus of Upcoming Talks
The talks are expected to focus on the evolving situation in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said. Pakistani and Qatari mediators remain in constant contact with both sides to resume direct talks and settle all pending issues.
A source close to the mediation process said Washington is ready for the talks, while Tehran has also conveyed a “positive” response. “Iran has hinted at resuming the talks after funeral of (slain leader) Syed Ali Khamenei’s funeral,” the source added.
Mediation Progress
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the parties had agreed to continue discussions in the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the “earliest possible time” after Khamenei’s funeral. Pakistani and Qatari mediators held separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on Thursday, making “positive” progress on issues related to the implementation of the Islamabad MoU, building on discussions at last month’s Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland.
In the latest indirect talks, the Iranian side told mediators that Tehran will not completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the “foremost” point of the Islamabad MoU is fulfilled: a ceasefire on all fronts and withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, sources said.
Nuclear and Frozen Assets Issues
Iranian side also told mediators that Tehran will not hold any talks on the nuclear issue until the issues related to Lebanon and its frozen assets are “completely” settled. According to the Iranian side, both issues must be resolved before nuclear talks begin.
On the US response, sources said Washington was of the view that implementation of already settled issues and talks on pending matters should “go together.” “The American view was that the already settled issues must not be overlapped by the pending ones,” the source said. Iran, however, disagreed with the US side’s point of view.
Progress on Frozen Assets
On the frozen assets matter, sources said the two sides have made “some progress.” “Iran wants immediate release of its $6 billion funds held in Qatar, whereas the US in principal agreed to the demand but insisted on the release of funds in tranches and subject to the implementation of the MoU,” the source maintained. The two sides agreed to further discuss the issue in the next round of talks.
Official Statements
Pakistani and Qatari mediators on Wednesday concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha, reporting “positive progress” on issues related to aspects of the Islamabad MoU. According to a Foreign Office statement, “Qatari and Pakistani mediators concluded separate meetings with the US and Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the aspects of the Islamabad MOU, building on the Lake Lucerne Summit.”
The statement added that the parties have agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be set at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader. The Government of Qatar also issued an identical statement following the meetings with the negotiators from the US and Iran.
