Indirect technical negotiations between the United States and Iran resumed in Doha on the evening of 30 June, according to Reuters and other news agencies, even as Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesman had publicly denied any such meeting would take place. The talks, mediated separately by Qatar and Pakistan, focused on three core issues: the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the release of six billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets, and the consolidation of the ceasefire in Lebanon. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesman later confirmed that the mediators had held separate sessions with the American and Iranian delegations and that “positive progress” had been made on matters linked to the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad. The next round is to be scheduled after the funeral of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Viewed from Washington, the primary objective is to guarantee the free flow of maritime traffic through the Strait. A source familiar with the talks told Reuters that the US priority is ensuring unimpeded passage, while President Donald Trump described the nuclear disarmament process as “progressing very well” and noted that oil prices had fallen to $68, below the level at the start of military strikes on Iran. US officials also conveyed to the Iranian side, according to Axios, that Washington intends to continue restraining Israel and ensuring its adherence to the Lebanon ceasefire, with the initial withdrawal from two test areas in southern Lebanon presented as a first step that could lead to further pullbacks. The White House has stated that no portion of the frozen assets has yet been released and that disbursement is contingent on meeting specific benchmarks.

In Tehran’s account, the talks are centred on securing international recognition of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and its right to levy tolls on vessels entering or exiting the Gulf, a position two senior Iranian sources described to Reuters as one Iran is prepared to enforce by force if necessary. Iranian officials have publicly listed the management of the waterway and the unblocking of assets as their priorities. The negotiations are being conducted within the framework of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed electronically by the two presidents on 18 June, which halted the military operations that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, reopened the Strait, and set a 60-day deadline for reaching a permanent peace agreement. Public disagreement over the memorandum’s terms had led to retaliatory strikes the previous week, casting doubt on progress on more complex files, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Parallel to the Doha track, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) led a regional security dialogue in Manama on 1 July, hosted by Bahrain and attended by senior military officials from twelve countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the United States. A CENTCOM statement said participants discussed the current security environment and reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The command also announced the establishment of a new Middle East air defence coordination cell to share threat information and warnings and to coordinate emergency responses. The Manama meeting marked the first time military commanders from Syria and Lebanon participated in a US-led regional defence conference.

Commercial shipping data illustrates the operational context: CNN reported that at least 35 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the preceding 24 hours, a figure still well below the pre-war daily average of around 110 ships, though disruptions to vessel positioning systems have noticeably decreased in recent weeks. The Doha talks have now adjourned, with the Qatari foreign ministry indicating that the date of the next meeting will be set as soon as possible after the Khamenei funeral ceremonies conclude. The broader diplomatic process remains anchored in the 60-day framework established by the Islamabad memorandum, with technical sessions between senior negotiators and specialists expected to continue.