A high-level Iranian delegation arrived in the Qatari capital Doha for sensitive talks aimed at drafting a memorandum of understanding to end the war in the Middle East, as well as discussing mechanisms for releasing Iranian assets frozen abroad.
The Iranian delegation includes prominent political and financial figures, led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, reflecting the sensitivity of the files on the negotiating table.
An Iranian diplomatic source said that the talks will focus on the frozen assets complex, as Tehran demands the inclusion of a binding clause in the memorandum of understanding that stipulates the immediate release of $12 billion held in Qatar as a first step, with a clear mechanism to deal with the rest of the frozen assets around the world, which are estimated at about $100 billion.
The source pointed out that the two sides will discuss a draft 60-day truce agreement, which includes the extension of the ceasefire, the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, allowing Tehran to resume the sale of oil without restrictions.
The source said that this round of negotiations represents a real test of the ability of regional mediation to achieve a breakthrough in one of the most complex files in the region, amid international anticipation of its results and repercussions on the course of the war and regional stability
The visit comes within the framework of regional mediation led by Qatar and Pakistan to bridge the gap between Tehran and the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to informed diplomatic sources.
Tehran: Visas Allow Araghchi to Travel to New York
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to New York was canceled due to problems related to the issuance of entry visas, despite previous plans to complete the visit.
"We were planning to visit, and we said that if there were no other priorities, we would travel, but we had a problem with visas, so this travel was canceled," he said during a press conference.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced last week that Araghchi had received an invitation to participate in a special session of the UN Security Council on international peace and security, at the initiative of China, to be held on Tuesday.
Trump: Either a great deal with Iran or no deal at all
US President Donald Trump said that a potential deal with Iran "will either be great and meaningful, or there will be no agreement", in a post on his platform "Truth Social" on Monday, May 25, in which he touched on the possibility of reaching a deal with Iran.
Trump called the nuclear deal, which was struck during former U.S. President Barack Obama's term, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "disastrous and a failure."
Trump claimed that the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran opened the way for Tehran to acquire a nuclear weapon, adding that a deal he might make himself would be "the exact opposite" of that agreement.
On Sunday, the American website Axios, citing US officials, reported claims that the United States and Iran are close to reaching an agreement that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Tehran to sell oil, and resuming negotiations aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program.
On Saturday evening, Trump announced that most of the terms of the "agreement" with Iran had been completed, and its details were about to be revealed.