President Donald Trump said on Monday that U.S. officials will travel to Qatar to discuss Iran after Washington and Tehran agreed to halt strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
"IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!" Trump said in a social media post.
Citing a white House official, Axios reporter Barak Ravid noted that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet with the Qatari Prime Minister and other officials to discuss the deal and on Wednesday officials from Washington and Tehran will meet separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators to discuss technical aspects of the agreement.
The meeting comes after the countries agreed to halt strikes in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
Axios detailed that attacks carried out by both countries were a result of different interpretations of the memorandum of understanding to end the war, especially traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of committing what he called a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire. He said the Iranian military shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz," claiming that one drone struck the upper deck of a large cargo vessel while three others were intercepted.
Tehran struck cargo ships moving through Oman's end of the key waterway as it seeks to enforce its control of all traffic, particularly through its side. The country is estimating it could make $40 billion a year if it effectively manages to control shipping there.
Citing Iranian officials familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal detailed that, if implemented, the plan would be a significant windfall for the regime as it would provide a source of income it did not have before the war. The outlet went on to note that Tehran is presenting the idea to other countries in the region and wants its neighbors to be a part of it and share the revenues to make it more appealing.
The U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes on at least two different occasions since Friday's attacks.
In this context, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Qatar released $6 billion in frozen funds belonging to the country.
"Based on the plans made, $6 billion out of the total $12 billion of Iranian resources in Qatar will be released and returned to the country, and necessary follow-ups are being carried out," Pezeshkian said in remarks posted by state-run IRNA news agency. He went on to praise the deal reached with the U.S., calling it a "great victory for the Iranian people."
The Associated Press noted that, according to U.S. officials, no frozen Iranian assets have been released so far, and Qatar has not acknowledged any such transfers.
