Doha Becomes New Test for US-Iran Peace
Iranian and US negotiating teams are scheduled to be in Doha this week, but the two sides remain divided on whether direct meetings will actually take place. This comes after missile attacks from both countries over the weekend again tested the fragility of the temporary ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
US President Donald Trump sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiating team. Meanwhile, Iran also sent a technical delegation to Qatar. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that the Iranian delegation's visit was unrelated to the American visit and that no direct talks with the US were scheduled for the coming days.
These differing statements indicate that the June 17 agreement remains highly fragile. The agreement was intended to extend the April ceasefire, address Iran's nuclear program, its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and pave the way for a permanent ceasefire. However, progress has been slow as both sides accuse each other of violating the agreed terms.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the most sensitive point in the conflict. After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz almost completely stopped. Before the war, about one-fifth of global oil trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the waterway pushed oil prices above US$100 per barrel, sparking concerns about global inflation and increasing political pressure on Trump ahead of the US midterm elections.
Under the latest agreement, Iran stated it would ensure the safety of tankers and commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, tensions resurfaced after Iran said it would stop ships that did not follow the agreed-upon shipping lane. Tehran also plans to impose fees on ships using the strait after a 60-day period expires, a move that has angered Washington.
Tensions escalated after the US accused Iran of attacking at least two commercial vessels with missiles or drones in recent days. The US retaliated by attacking Iranian military facilities over the weekend. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that approximately US$6 billion of the US$12 billion in Iranian assets frozen in Qatar would soon be unfrozen and returned to Iran. He called the memorandum of understanding a major victory for the Iranian people, especially as it includes relief from US sanctions on Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors.
Oil prices rose again on Monday after weekend tensions highlighted the fragility of the US-Iran deal. France has also begun to intervene, with President Emmanuel Macron stating that it will work with Oman and other partners to help defuse tensions and secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, including through mine clearance efforts.
US-Iran tensions have also impacted efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, has expressed doubts about the US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Iran has emphasized that a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon must include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, leaving the regional peace process with a long road ahead. (arl)
Source: newsmaker.id
