Middle East live: Qatar reaffirms backing for US – Iran talks

01/07/2026 - 07:41

What's on the table for Iranian team meeting Qatari mediators

Iran has said it will meet with Qatari mediators in Doha Wednesday, but contradicted President Donald Trump's claim that direct talks will take place.

Qatar also confirmed that no direct talks between the longtime foes were planned.

The Iranian delegation is led by deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

A key issue in the US-Iran agreement that needs to be ironed out is Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, with the agreement providing for its reopening.

Another key issue for Iran is its funds frozen by crippling US sanctions.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman on Tuesday said talks in Qatari concerned the "release of Iran's restricted assets".

Despite the recent outbreak of hostilies, Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf noted in TV interview Tuesday that "when a war of this magnitude comes to an end... it is inevitable that there will be implementation challenges, incidents, and differences of opinion, especially where parties such as the Israeli regime are concerned".

He said the Iranian delegation would be focused on the implementation of clauses related to fighting in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.

01/07/2026 - 05:55

Oil rises on concerns over US – Iran talks and supply disruptions

Oil prices rose on Wednesday on concerns that setbacks in discussions between Iran and the US over a final agreement to end their war may prolong supply disruptions in the key Middle East producing region.

Brent futures rose 33 cents, or 0.45%, to $73.28 a barrel at 0339 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 34 cents, or 0.49%, to $69.84 a barrel.

"Hormuz continues to reopen but it's patchy, unpredictable, and not fully transparent... Unless there is a fresh understanding between Washington and Tehran, the market may wait and watch for sustained peace and quiet before crude resumes bearish momentum," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.

01/07/2026 - 04:44

Qatar reaffirms backing for US – Iran talks

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani affirmed his country's continued mediation efforts and its support for all tracks of talks stemming from the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed's remarks came in a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, where they discussed developments in ongoing US – Iran talks.

01/07/2026 - 04:43

Welcome to the France 24 liveblog covering events in the Middle East. You can catch up on yesterday's developments here.

Yesterday's key developments:

• Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that Iran was pursuing dialogue with the United States, but remained ready for war if the “dialogue is not implemented”.

• US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met Qatari mediators in Doha on Tuesday for discussions on negotiations with Iran.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in southern Lebanon, vowing that his country's forces would stay in the area as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah remained a "threat". 

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)