Attempts to settle the Iran war are “moving along well” despite a recent volley of tit-for-tat airstrikes in the middle of negotiations, President Trump said Wednesday.
Mr. Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, spent a second day in Doha on Wednesday to discuss the peace process with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan, though they did not speak directly to the Iranian side.
The envoys reportedly met with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations and developments in Lebanon.
“They’ve had very good meetings, and we’ll see,” Mr. Trump told reporters ahead of a trip to North Dakota.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said Wednesday the Iranian delegation met with mediators but not with U.S. diplomats. The discussions focused on the status of Iran’s $6 billion worth of frozen assets held by Qatar and on implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The parties are working toward a final deal that ends the war permanently and prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. However, both countries are talking tough and recently traded military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
The president struck a positive tone despite the recent turmoil and general concerns that both sides could return to an all-out war if peace talks stumble.
“We hit them very hard for three nights, as you know, but we’re getting along very well,” Mr. Trump said.
Iran and the U.S. previously met for direct negotiations earlier this month in Geneva after the two countries signed the U.S.-backed memorandum of understanding, which established a ceasefire and a 60-day negotiating window over Iran’s nuclear program, possible sanctions relief and future control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The memo called for lifting a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran seems intent on maintaining some degree of control over traffic in the waterway or imposing tolls.
Tehran is also eager to get $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds being held in Qatar, though the U.S. says it will not see any money until it fulfills certain aspects of the first-stage deal.
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