US, Iran begin indirect technical talks in Doha

DOHA, Qatar — Indirect technical negotiations between the United States and Iran began Wednesday in Doha, mediated jointly by Qatar and Pakistan, according to Reuters. The talks are being held through indirect channels between the two sides, with Doha and Islamabad working to narrow the parties' positions and follow up on previously reached understandings. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, met Tuesday with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Sani to prepare the ground for the start of the talks. A senior Iranian official said the indirect negotiations have been under way in Doha since Tuesday evening and are focused on Iran's frozen assets and the Strait of Hormuz. The same official said the negotiations are being conducted through meetings with Qatari and Pakistani officials, who have also held separate talks with the US side. Qatar's Foreign Ministry had earlier denied reports of a planned high-level US-Iran meeting but said Witkoff and Kushner were in Doha consulting with mediators. No further details on the substance of the talks were immediately available.