ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A high-profile Iranian delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Monday, state media confirmed, adding that talks will focus on certain ‘aspects’ of the war-end agreement with the United States, amid reports of a potential release of frozen Iranian funds as well.
“A delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, traveled to Doha today,” theIslamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported, adding that “the visit is part of the ongoing diplomatic process that began in recent weeks with Pakistan’s mediation efforts aimed at ending the imposed war [on Iran].”
During the visit, “consultations will be held with senior Qatari officials regarding certain aspects related to negotiations aimed at ending the imposed war,” the state-run outlet added.
For its part, Tasnim News Agency, an outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also in Doha alongside Ghalibaf.
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse (AFP) cited a “source briefed on the matter” as saying that the Iranian delegation includes the head of Iran’s central bank, who is participating in discussions on “the issue of frozen funds” as part of a potential final agreement with the US.
The source added that other topics on the agenda include the management of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, AFP reported.
The US and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran in late February, striking thousands of targets across the country during six weeks of hostilities.
In response, Iran carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
While the first round of talks concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place, with a comprehensive resolution to the conflict still pending.
In parallel with the diplomatic efforts, Iran and the US have engaged in tit-for-tat maritime measures. Tehran has tightened its grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports on April 13.
The Iranian delegation's visit to Doha comes as talks between Tehran and Washington appear to be moving closer to an agreement, though no final deal has yet been reached.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that negotiations with Iran “are proceeding nicely,” adding, “It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — back to the battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — and nobody wants that!”
Trump also linked any potential agreement with Iran to broader normalization efforts with Israel under the Abraham Accords, saying it should involve the participation of “Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (already a Member), Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (already a Member!).”
“I am mandatorily requesting that all [of the aforementioned] countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its agreement with me as President of the United States of America, it would be an honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled world coalition,” he said.
The Abraham Accords are a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries - beginning with the UAE and Bahrain in 2020 - brokered by the US under Trump’s first term in office. These accords established formal ties in areas like diplomacy, security and trade.
For his part, Iranian foreign ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that indirect talks with the US are focused on ending the war on all fronts, while downplaying the likelihood of an imminent deal.
“It is true that we have reached understandings on many of the subjects under discussion, but no one can claim that the signing of an agreement is imminent,” he said.
He explained that discussions linked to a 14-point memorandum of understanding would continue over a 60-day period, focusing on ending the war and the ongoing US maritime blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran would adopt measures to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Last updated at 5:30 pm.