American and regional sources have revealed that Washington and Tehran reached a preliminary understanding during the Doha talks. This understanding involves maintaining calm and exercising restraint over the coming week, aiming to create a conducive environment for advancing negotiations on the memorandum of understanding between the two sides.
According to Axios, a U.S. official stated that the aim is to create a 'constructive environment' that would allow progress across various negotiation files. The U.S. administration has emphasized that any new attack will be met with a stronger response targeting Iranian capabilities, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
The Doha meetings focused on three main issues: securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, frozen Iranian funds, and the ceasefire in Lebanon. This is amid ongoing Gulf efforts to find a management formula for the Strait post-memorandum of understanding.
American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attempted to persuade the Iranian side that imposing transit fees on ships could hinder achieving a comprehensive agreement. They emphasized that the economic benefits from lifting sanctions would far outweigh any potential revenues from transit fees.
Regarding frozen Iranian funds, a regional source mentioned a preliminary agreement to release an initial $3 billion tranche dedicated to purchasing humanitarian goods via the Central Bank of Iran. However, U.S. officials denied any agreement, asserting no funds have been released yet.
These developments come as Qatar continues mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani reiterated Doha's ongoing support for talks aimed at solidifying the ceasefire in Lebanon and ensuring a successful negotiation pathway leading to a comprehensive agreement that enhances regional security and stability.