Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing US-Iran negotiations under the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and broader efforts to promote regional security through diplomacy.
Focus on US-Iran MoU Implementation
According to Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting centered on progress in talks between the United States and Iran, alongside recent regional developments. The ministry stated, "The meeting discussed developments in the ongoing talks between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties, along with the efforts aimed at promoting security and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy."
Lebanon Ceasefire Consolidation
The discussions also covered the latest regional developments, particularly the ceasefire in Lebanon. The ministry emphasized "the importance of consolidating it and building upon it in a way that preserves Lebanon's unity, sovereignty, and stability." Al-Thani reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to facilitating dialogue and mediation efforts, stating that Qatar supports "all tracks of talks stemming from the MoU, leading to a comprehensive and sustainable solution that enhances the security of the region."
US Appreciation for Qatari-Pakistani Mediation
The US delegation expressed appreciation for Qatar's mediation role, alongside Pakistan, and reiterated Washington's commitment to the negotiations. The ministry noted, "For their part, the two US envoys voiced the United States' appreciation for the State of Qatar's role, in partnership with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in facilitating the course of talks, stressing the United States' commitment to continuing the negotiation process."
Iran's Stance: Nuclear Rights Non-Negotiable
On Tuesday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran's nuclear rights and red lines are "non-negotiable." He asserted that Tehran will not proceed to the next stage of negotiations until key commitments under the 14-point MoU, including the end of the war in Lebanon and implementation-related measures, are fulfilled. Ghalibaf warned, "We are also in talks, and if they do not want to fulfil their commitments in the talks, we are ready for war."
Joint Committee for Lebanon Provisions
Ghalibaf revealed that a joint committee comprising representatives from Iran and the United States had been formed to oversee implementation of the Lebanon-related provisions of the MoU. He stated that talks would continue until five key clauses (1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of the MoU) were fully implemented. "We prioritised the issue of Lebanon, and today you see that relative calm has been established there. The follow-up is serious, and the talks are still ongoing, and until these five clauses, one of the most important of which is the issue of Lebanon, are consolidated and finalised, we will not enter the next stage of implementing the other clauses," he said.
