The United States and Iran have announced plans to send delegations to Qatar this week, though Tehran insists it has not agreed to meet with the US at any level following weekend attacks across the Persian Gulf that challenged negotiations to end the war.
US President Donald Trump stated that the US will meet with Iran in Doha on Tuesday. "IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!" he posted on Truth Social early Monday.
However, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's chief negotiator, told reporters that no technical working group meetings have been scheduled for this week. A senior US official told CNN that technical talks regarding the memorandum of understanding were "on track" despite the recent exchange of fire.
Divergent Statements on Meeting
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News, "Well, I just spoke with the president about it. Iran has requested a meeting this week, so Special Envoy (Steve) Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week as we continue to discuss the memorandum of understanding."
In contrast, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran had no meetings with the US in the coming days. The delegation charged with negotiating with the US will visit Doha but will focus on "implementing the provisions of the Islamabad MoU," according to Iran's semi-official IRNA news agency. The ministry added that the visit of American representatives to Qatar had no connection to the Iranian delegation's visit.
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Resumes
Marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has modestly picked up in the last 36 hours, according to ship tracking data. Several larger tankers were outbound through the Strait on Monday, using a southern route close to the Omani coast. Among them was the partially loaded chemical and oil tanker Vaughan, heading to the UAE port of Fujairah, and the laden crude tanker Das, as well as the Greek-operated Nissos Heraclea, which left Iraq's Basra port three days ago.
Three container ships have entered the Gulf over the past three days—the first with commercial links to major carriers since the conflict began, according to marine intelligence firm Kpler. However, total traffic is difficult to gauge as many ships sail without active transponders.
Tehran insists ships must have its permission to travel through the Strait on designated routes. But a growing number of vessels are using a route close to the Omani coast, threatening Iran's leverage over the waterway. Some ships still use Iran's designated route, including the bulk carrier Star Kamila entering the Gulf on Monday.
According to Iranian state television, the Iranian Navy has again warned vessels to only pass south of Larak Island, just off the Iranian coast.
Oil Prices and Market Reaction
Stocks mostly rose while oil prices climbed after the US and Iran exchanged fire over the weekend, underscoring the fragility of their tentative agreement to end the war. Oil prices, which fell to pre-war levels last week, rose modestly.
"The impact on oil prices remains relatively contained," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote. "News that some key markets have even turned oversupplied thanks to the release of strategic reserves and oil tankers quietly making their way out of Hormuz has certainly helped investors react more moderately to the latest escalation."
Iranian Frozen Assets
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that half of Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar will be returned to Tehran. According to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Pezeshkian announced during meetings with senior clerics in Qom, "Based on the plans made, $6 billion out of the total $12 billion of Iran's resources in Qatar will be returned to the country, and the necessary follow-ups are also underway for the return of the remaining part of these resources."
US officials have said that no frozen Iranian assets have yet been released. A US official stated Monday, "Iranian assets that are released would be used to purchase American agricultural products to feed the Iranian people. Any release of funds for humanitarian purchases will be tied to performance and Iran's implementation of the MOU."
The memorandum of understanding agreed between the US and Iran earlier this month stipulated that Washington "undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation" of the agreement. Iran has long insisted that the return of assets frozen in overseas banks must be part of the process.
First Direct Flight Between UAE and Iran Since War
A commercial plane flew from Iran to the United Arab Emirates on Monday in the first direct flight between the two countries since the war erupted four months ago. The Sepehran Airlines plane landed at Dubai International Airport at 1:39 p.m., according to the airport's website. Another flight from Dubai to Tehran is scheduled for later today.
The UAE bore the brunt of Tehran's attacks during the US-Israeli war, with Iran firing nearly 2,000 missiles and drones at the UAE, targeting military, energy, and civilian sites. Relations between Iran and the UAE—a close US ally with strong ties to Israel—remained turbulent even after Washington and Tehran reached a ceasefire in April. One of Iran's biggest trading partners before the war, the UAE adopted a more hawkish stance after coming under attack, downgrading economic and cultural ties. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the first known conversation between the two since the war began.
