The United States and Iran have suspended indirect peace negotiations until mid-July after a new round of talks in Doha ended without a breakthrough on some of the most contentious issues left unresolved by the recent conflict, including the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's role in Lebanon. Mediators from Qatar said the discussions showed "positive progress," but officials acknowledged that the two sides remain far apart on several core demands.
The talks, held separately between U.S. and Iranian delegations with Qatari and Pakistani mediators, were the latest attempt to build on the June ceasefire that halted months of fighting between Washington, Israel and Tehran. Unlike previous rounds that focused on ending military operations, this week's negotiations concentrated on technical issues, including maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen Iranian assets and mechanisms for implementing parts of the preliminary peace framework.
