Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jun 29: Iran on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that a new round of technical negotiations with the United States would take place this week, with a senior Iranian official clarifying that no such meeting has been scheduled.
Speaking to reporters, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, rejected claims that technical-level discussions between Iranian and US delegations would be held in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. The remarks were carried by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
Gharibabadi, who leads Iran's delegation in the technical negotiations, said discussions with Qatari officials remain underway on various issues, including efforts to ensure that Washington fulfils its commitments under the recently signed peace Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The technical dialogue between Tehran and Washington had originally commenced in Switzerland on June 22 as part of broader efforts to address bilateral disputes.
A day earlier, Mehdi Fazaeli, a member of the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Iran's Supreme Leader, revealed in an interview with state broadcaster IRIB that a fresh round of technical talks had been planned but was later cancelled by Iran.
According to Fazaeli, Tehran called off the negotiations in response to recent US military strikes against Iran and what it described as Washington's failure to meet certain commitments outlined in the peace agreement.
Meanwhile, US media outlet Axios reported that both countries had agreed to temporarily halt retaliatory actions and resume dialogue on Tuesday in Doha to address rising tensions over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The report quoted a US official as saying that both sides had agreed to "stand down for now," allowing commercial shipping to move freely while diplomatic efforts continue.
The negotiations were initially expected to take place in Switzerland with a primary focus on Iran's nuclear programme. However, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz reportedly prompted a shift in venue to Doha, with discussions now expected to concentrate on maritime security and ensuring safe navigation through one of the world's most critical oil transit routes.