Qatar said “positive progress” was made as the United States and Iran concluded indirect technical talks in Doha on issues tied to the memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June.
Tehran announced a “communication channel” will be set up with Washington to report and discuss breaches of the MoU, reports Al Jazeera.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani reviewed the ways to expedite implementation of the 17 June MoU.
The ministry said senior negotiators from Iran, Qatar and Pakistan later held a trilateral meeting on the implementation process, though participants were not identified, Xinhua reported.
Gharibabadi noted that working groups have already been formed to oversee implementation and prepare for final agreement negotiations. Formal talks, however, have yet to begin, with discussions on the date and venue continuing through mediators.
The Iranian delegation in Doha includes officials from the Foreign Ministry, Central Bank and Agriculture Ministry.
On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday’s talks with Qatari officials would focus on the release of Iran’s frozen assets, adding that no meetings with US officials were scheduled.
Earlier Wednesday, an informed source told media that indirect US-Iran talks were underway in Doha under Qatari and Pakistani mediation, addressing implementation of the MoU, including frozen Iranian assets and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a foreign container ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz after entering shallow waters outside the shipping routes designated by Iranian authorities.
On the other hand, Israeli forces continued strikes on southern Lebanon despite declared “ceasefire” agreements.
