Iran denies Trump’s claim, says no talks planned with US in Qatar, final negotiations yet to begin

Iran on Tuesday denied Trump’s assertions that it was in negotiations with the United States, saying there were no meetings with the Americans scheduled “in the coming days”. It also dismissed speculation that its delegation’s visit to Qatar was linked to any US discussions. "We have no negotiation meetings with the American side at any level in the coming days," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei was quoted as saying by Iran's Fars News Agency.

He said: “The fact that US representatives are travelling to Qatar has nothing to do with the trip of the Iranian delegation, which is being undertaken to follow up on the implementation of the provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including Article 11.”

Baghaei also stressed that talks on a comprehensive deal have not started yet. "We haven't entered the negotiation phase for the final agreement," he said.

Baghaei, referring to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) said, “The start of negotiations for the final agreement is dependent upon the start and continuation of the implementation of Articles 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11, as per Article 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding.”

The articles of the MoU referred to by Baghaei included key confidence-building measures that need to be initiated before formal talks on a final agreement can begin. Article 11 obligates the US to make Iran’s frozen or restricted funds and assets fully available for use under mutually agreed procedures and to issue the required licences and authorisations to facilitate access.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that Article 13 of the 14-point MoU provides that the negotiations on a final agreement will only be initiated after the implementation of the five provisions mentioned has been initiated and is ongoing. The parties have to show progress on agreed preliminary measures before moving on to wider negotiations.

The White House meanwhile said the US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser to US President Donald Trump Jared Kushner would travel to Doha for talks with Iran on Tuesday as diplomatic engagement between the two sides continues despite ongoing tensions following the recent exchange of fire between the two sides over incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Following a request from Iran,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

Trump wants to see the peace process continue,” Leavitt said, urging Iran to reach an agreement with Washington as technical talks continue after the signing of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the hostilities in West Asia.

“The president wants to see the peace process play out and Iranians would be best to sign a good deal with the United States of America,” she said.

The comments come after Trump said earlier today that Iran had requested a meeting with the US following the recent military escalation between the two sides over the Strait of Hormuz and an announcement that talks with Tehran would take place in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday – despite Iranian officials saying no technical meetings have been scheduled this week.