Qatar says US-Iran indirect Doha talks make ‘positive progress’

DOHA – Qatar has announced positive progress following a new round of separate meetings between US and Iranian negotiators held in Doha with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan. In a statement shared on social media, Dr. Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the mediators met separately with delegations from the United States and Iran. According to Al Ansari, the discussions focused on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and built upon the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit. He said the meetings resulted in positive progress and that all sides agreed to continue negotiations in the coming period. Al Ansari added that the next round of talks will be scheduled at the earliest possible opportunity after the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader. Qatar & Pakistan mediators concluded separate meetings with the US & Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, building on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit. The parties agreed to continue… — د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) July 1, 2026 Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended his government’s engagement in negotiations with the United States, saying there has been no directive from the country’s Supreme Leader prohibiting the talks. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian said the government would have fully complied if Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had instructed officials not to negotiate with Washington. His remarks come as debate continues within Iran over the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and the United States following comments by the Supreme Leader, who said he held a “different opinion” regarding the agreement. Speaking on the issue, Pezeshkian also reaffirmed his support for Iran’s armed forces,