Iran Says It Won't Meet With U.S. Envoys, Clouding Prospects For Peace Deal

Iran refused to meet directly with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff who traveled to Doha on Tuesday, instead agreeing only to indirect talks through Qatari mediators, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said. The refusal threatens an emerging peace framework signed two weeks earlier that calls for Iran to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives and contemplates broader nuclear negotiations. U.S. President Trump has publicly threatened military strikes while exploring diplomatic options to resolve the standoff.

The two sides remain divided over fundamental terms of the ceasefire agreement. Iran insists it and Oman hold sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and plan to impose tolls when a 60-day negotiation period expires in mid-August, conflicting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance's pledge to prevent Iranian toll collection on the strategic waterway handling roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before February's conflict began.