US envoys Witkoff, Kushner meet mediators in Doha; Qatar says no direct US-Iran talks

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Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appear to be staking out differing approaches to carrying out President Donald Trump’s national security agenda as the possible 2028 presidential rivals jostle for position in a divided Republican Party. With vastly different backgrounds and policy experience, they have moved along separate paths to stake out territory: Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants with a long history in the Senate and major interest in Latin America, and Vance, a child of the Midwest and Marine Corps veteran who served in the Senate for only two years before being tapped as Trump's 2024 running mate, with a message of opposing foreign wars.

Oman has quietly circulated a proposal to the United States and other allied governments outlining a long-term framework for managing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, signaling that the waterway may not simply return to its pre-conflict status quo even as maritime traffic gradually stabilises.

The proposal, reportedly by CNN citing diplomatic sources, comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish new security and navigation arrangements following months of regional conflict.

Muscat's plan explores mechanisms to improve navigational safety, environmental protection and maritime security, including possible service fees tied to those functions, though Oman has stressed it remains committed to international maritime law and freedom of navigation.

Chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said Iran was unable to export any oil during the US blockade on its ports, noting that exports have since surged.

"From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil," he said in an interview on state television. "By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60 days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil."

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the country will not enter further negotiations for a final agreement until key provisions of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) are implemented.

He said Iran would not proceed with talks unless clauses 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of the MoU are fulfilled.

The clauses cited include a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, the removal of what Iran describes as a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and guaranteed safe passage for commercial vessels without charges for a limited 60-day period.

They also cover waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, as well as the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Ghalibaf’s remarks underline Tehran’s position that progress in negotiations depends on full implementation of agreed conditions, particularly those linked to maritime security and sanctions relief.

Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said that Iran was prioritising diplomacy with the United States, but remained ready for war.

"We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly," Ghalibaf said in an interview on state television, as Iranian and US delegations were due to hold separate discussions in Doha.

Qatar said that technical talks between Iran and the United States are continuing, although no high-level meetings are currently taking place under the existing negotiation framework.

Majed Al Ansari, adviser to Qatar’s prime minister and Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said visits by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Doha were part of wider consultations with Qatari officials and mediators on regional issues, including Iran and Lebanon.

Speaking at a media briefing, Al Ansari said technical contacts between Tehran and Washington have continued since earlier Switzerland meetings through both direct and indirect channels.

He added that Iranian and US technical delegations remain engaged in discussions in different formats, with mediators supporting efforts to keep the process moving in Doha and elsewhere.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, welcoming the recent understanding aimed at ending the West Asia conflict.

During the conversation, President Pezeshkian briefed PM Modi on the latest regional developments and the path forward.

PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing the need for sustained efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring secure shipping lanes and commerce in the region.

This is part of ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two leaders. In their earlier talks in March, both sides had discussed regional security concerns, including the protection of civilian lives and critical infrastructure.

PM Modi had also previously highlighted the importance of keeping maritime routes open and secure.

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned of the "increasingly precarious" situation of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA, saying that millions of people's livelihoods were at risk.

The secretary-general said that further funding cuts for UNRWA - which Israel has criticized as politically biased - could "push conditions beyond breaking point."

Because of insufficient funding, UNRWA has scaled back its operations since the start of the year.

"As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance," Guterres told a donor conference for the UN agency.

He noted the "utterly appalling" living conditions in Gaza, violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

"It [UNRWA] faces sweeping restrictions throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. And a cash shortfall that imperils its work across the region," Guterres said.

"I am appalled by continuing efforts to marginalize and undermine UNRWA through disinformation, smear campaigns, legislative actions, operational restrictions, diplomatic roadblocks and more," he said.

Israel has long opposed UNRWA, created by the UN General Assembly in 1949, and intensified its criticism after October 7, alleging that employees participated in the deadly 2023 attack on Israel.

The maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz has been raised to “substantial”, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), even as commercial shipping continues to move normally through the key waterway.

According to CNN reports, the JMIC said vessels have maintained regular transits over the past 48 hours, using both the southern Omani corridor and the northern Iranian-controlled route, while US-assisted shipping operations continued without disruption.

Despite steady movement, the advisory body warned of ongoing security concerns, including mine risks, navigation interference, drone activity and surveillance in the region.

The JMIC confirmed that no verified maritime security incidents were recorded during the latest reporting period.

Based in Bahrain, the Joint Maritime Information Center is a US-led multinational body established in 2024 that monitors maritime risks and works with partners including UKMTO.

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".

"Our position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has disappeared. And as long as Hezbollah, armed, is here and threatening us, we will stay here," Netanyahu said according to a statement from his office.

He added that "Lebanon recognises Israel, Israel recognises Lebanon, and we say to Iran and to Hezbollah: leave this place, you no longer belong here... There are two sovereign states that want to live in peace".

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level agreement with Egyptian authorities on reviews of the country's loan program, clearing the way for the disbursement of $1.6 billion.

"The impact of the war in the Middle East on the Egyptian economy has remained relatively contained, supported by the authorities' timely and decisive policy actions," said Amine Mati, IMF mission chief for Egypt, in a statement on Monday.

Nevertheless, the Fund warned that downside risks were significant, with renewed global inflationary pressures and tightening financial conditions.

In April, the IMF slashed its Middle East and North Africa growth forecast to 1.1 percent due to the effects of the war on Iran.

The Fund is due to issue an update of its World Economic Outlook next week.

Mati highlighted Egyptian efforts to increase domestic revenue and strengthen public debt management, but warned that more needed to be done to place the country's economy on a sustainable path. The agreement will now be considered by the IMF's board before disbursement can be made.

Iran will respond to any US violation of the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday, as delegations from both sides were expected in Qatar for indirect talks on the deal.

"We will not leave any action unanswered. As Iran's powerful armed forces have demonstrated, any act of aggression against the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with an immediate and decisive response," Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a weekly press conference.

"Such actions would constitute a violation of Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding. Naturally, if such violations are repeated and continue, the continuation of this process will encounter difficulties."

Iran will hold talks with mediator Qatar on Wednesday regarding its frozen assets, the Iranian foreign ministry said, denying that any meeting with the United States was planned in the Gulf state, where delegations from both sides were expected.

"What is expected to take place in Doha, probably tomorrow, will be discussions regarding the implementation of provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including the provision concerning the release of Iran's restricted assets, and these discussions will be held with the Qatari side," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a weekly press conference.

Baqaei was referring to Iranian funds blocked abroad due to US sanctions, a key issue under discussion as part of an agreement between Tehran and Washington to end the Middle East war.

Iran is making any agreement with the United States conditional on the release of a portion of these assets in order to bring a lasting end to the conflict.

Sri Lanka cut petrol and diesel prices by up to six percent, its first reduction since the Middle East war triggered a surge in energy prices in the import-dependent nation.

The price cut was announced on the same day that data showed inflation had accelerated to its highest level in three years.

The state-run Petroleum Corporation said it reduced diesel prices by 25 rupees per litre to 382 rupees ($1.15), while petrol was cut by 20 rupees to 414 rupees ($1.25).

Also on Tuesday, official data showed consumer inflation rose to 6.8 percent in June from 5.5 percent in May, driven largely by higher food prices linked to increased energy costs.

Sri Lanka had recorded deflation of 0.6 percent in June 2025.

Sri Lanka raised petrol and diesel prices by nearly 50 percent after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering a surge in energy prices. Electricity tariffs were also increased by a third as authorities sought to pass on higher import costs to consumers.

Mediator Qatar said that no high-level meetings or direct talks between the United States and Iran were planned in Doha after Washington said it had sent a top delegation for negotiations.

"To the best of my knowledge, there are no direct meetings scheduled between the two parties in the coming days," foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters in Doha, adding that the American team would meet with mediators. "To my knowledge there is no high-level meeting between the two sides."

US envoys were meeting with Qatari mediators on Tuesday, the Gulf state's foreign ministry spokesman said, after Washington said it was sending a negotiating team. 

"Mr. Steve Witfoff and Mr. Jared Kushner are here in Doha to meet with mediators, with Qatari officials, and the talks will be around all regional issues... including, of course, negotiations with Iran, but also including Lebanon," foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said.

"They are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians," he added. 

US and Iranian delegations were expected to convene in Doha this week, though Tehran said Monday that no formal meeting had yet been arranged, even as missile exchanges over the weekend put further strain on the fragile ceasefire that paused their four-month war.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump is dispatching senior officials Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and special envoy Steve Witkoff to head the US negotiating delegation. Iran, meanwhile, confirmed it would send a technical team to Qatar this week, but Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that the visit was unrelated to the American delegation's trip, stressing that no bilateral talks had been scheduled between the two countries.

Global demand for liquefied natural gas is projected to grow by approximately 65% by 2050, with Asia serving as the primary driver as nations move away from coal toward cleaner energy sources and power consumption from data centres continues to climb, Shell said in its annual report released Tuesday, as per Reuters.

The energy giant, the world's top trader of LNG, forecast in its 2026 LNG Outlook that worldwide demand could approach 700 million metric tons annually by mid-century.

According to the report, LNG trade totaled 422 million tons in 2025 and had been on track to grow further this year. That trajectory has been disrupted, however, by major shipping interruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, which have taken roughly one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply offline since the Middle East conflict erupted.

Shell noted that if shipping through the strait normalizes by summer, overall LNG trade in 2026 may end up roughly flat compared with the previous year, with growth expected to resume in 2027.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for the global trade of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, is at the centre of disputes in negotiations to end the Middle East war, even after the US and Iran signed a preliminary deal.

For weeks Iran has insisted, despite US opposition, that there will be no return to the pre-war status of the crucial waterway when shipping passage was free.

Britain's economy posted solid growth in the first quarter of 2026, according to official figures released Tuesday, even as households felt the pinch ahead of the full impact of the US-Iran conflict.

The Office for National Statistics confirmed output expanded by 0.6% during the January-to-March period, matching its earlier estimate. ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown noted that services led the expansion, pointing to gains in computer programming, wholesale trade and advertising, which outweighed declines in rental firms and recruitment agencies.

This marks the third consecutive year in which first-quarter growth has come in unusually strong, prompting some economists to question the reliability of the ONS's seasonal adjustment methods. The statistics agency said Tuesday that its own review found no statistically significant seasonal distortion, though it continues to monitor the issue closely.

Tech firms bounced back in Asia on Tuesday, tracking a rebound in their counterparts on Wall Street following the hefty selling of the past two weeks, while the yen held around a four-decade low against the dollar.

With optimism that the US-Iran crisis will eventually come to an end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen, attention has returned to central bank monetary policy and the future of the AI boom.

The tech sector -- which has led a global rally across markets and pushed several companies to record highs -- has taken a pummelling of late on fears over stretched valuations, interest rates and when traders will see returns on their investments.

But a rush to pick up bargains following that selloff fuelled a spike in New York, where the Dow hit a fresh peak and the Nasdaq climbed more than two percent.

Attackers shot dead two members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards at their home in the western city of Paveh, near the border with Iraq's Kurdistan region, state media reported Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the shooting but Tehran has frequently blamed Kurdish separatist groups in the area for previous violence, accusing them of links to the United States and Israel.

The two IRGC members were killed in "a terrorist and cowardly act", state television said, while two other Guards members were wounded.

State television said "exact details of this incident and the measures being taken to identify those responsible are under review".

US President Donald Trump said Iran has requested a meeting that will be held Tuesday in Qatar, despite Tehran denying any direct negotiations were planned with Washington on the deal aimed at ending the Middle East war.

The announcement came after Iran held its first talks with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran deal was signed, and as Washington and Tehran agreed to halt their attacks, which had strained the agreement.

"IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!" Trump posted Monday on his Truth Social platform, without specifying the participants.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy (and spokesperson) of the IRGC Navy, died in reported vehicle rollover accident in Iran's Kerman province.

Iranian state-affiliated media, including Fars News Agency (IRGC-linked), reported that Akbarzadeh, political deputy (and spokesperson) of the IRGC Navy, died after his vehicle overturned on a road in Kerman province (southeastern Iran, on the route from Yazd). 

Emergency responders transported him to a medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances.

This is corroborated by multiple outlets carrying the Iranian reporting, including Iran International, RIA Novosti/Sputnik affiliates, and social media summaries from observers. 

Lebanese state media on Monday said an Israeli strike hit the country's south, despite a framework accord signed by the two countries last week aimed at securing a peace deal.

"Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike targeting the area between the southern Lebanese towns of Qantara and Deir Seryan," the state-run National News Agency said.

Iran said a delegation of experts would travel to Doha this week for discussions on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States earlier this month.

"An expert delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran will travel to Doha later this week" to discuss the implementation of clauses of the memorandum, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

"We have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement," he said, noting that "over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level".

Mixed signals over planned US-Iran negotiations injected fresh uncertainty into Middle East diplomacy, as Tehran denied that any talks were scheduled despite President Donald Trump's announcement that American and Iranian officials would meet in Qatar this week.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said no negotiations with the US were planned "at any level" in the coming days, contradicting Trump's statement that talks would begin Tuesday. The conflicting messages have raised questions about the status of diplomatic efforts following weeks of heightened tensions in the region.

The uncertainty comes as negotiators seek to build on a fragile US-Iran memorandum of understanding intended to reduce hostilities and pave the way for a broader agreement addressing Iran's nuclear program, regional security and sanctions relief.

More than two dozen commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data, as global shipping companies cautiously resumed operations ahead of expected US-Iran peace talks that President Donald Trump said are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

The vessel count remains well below pre-conflict levels, underscoring continued concerns over security in one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints.

MarineTraffic data showed that 25 commercial ships passed through the strait during the latest 24-hour period. The outbound traffic from the Persian Gulf included six oil tankers and eight cargo vessels, while five tankers and six cargo ships entered the Gulf.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has briefed reporters on developments related to the implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), outlining progress on key provisions, according to official remarks.

He said the United States has issued the necessary authorisations under Article 10 of the MoU, related to oil sales, and that Iran is monitoring the implementation process.

Baghaei added that steps are also underway regarding the release of Iran’s frozen assets.

However, he clarified that negotiations on a final agreement have not yet begun.

He further said any visit by US representatives to Qatar is unrelated to the Iranian delegation’s trip, which is focused solely on follow-up implementation issues, including Article 11 of the MoU.

US President Donald Trump pushed to link the wars in Lebanon and Iran during ceasefire discussions, despite Israel’s preference to treat them as separate conflicts, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said, according to a CNN report.

Katz said he regretted the linkage but noted it “served an American interest,” adding that Washington wanted to advance negotiations with Iran and saw the Lebanon front as an obstacle.

He also said Israel had no territorial ambitions in Lebanon but remains in place with US backing until Hezbollah is fully disarmed.

According to Katz, Israel has destroyed large parts of border villages and said displaced residents from southern Lebanon will not be allowed to return.

He also reiterated that Israel would strike Beirut’s Dahiyeh district if Hezbollah attacks northern Israel and said it is prepared to resume operations against Iran if diplomacy fails or if Iran attacks Israel.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Emirati citizens will be allowed to travel to Lebanon from Monday, June 29, 2026.

The ministry said registration through the Tawajudi service is mandatory before travel, adding that citizens will not be allowed to leave UAE ports of departure before completing the registration process to avoid travel procedures being suspended or legal accountability.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the ministry said UAE citizens must also notify the relevant authorities of their return through Tawajudi.

It urged citizens to contact the ministry in emergencies on +97180024.

The decision follows an earlier travel ban announced on April 30, 2026, when the ministry barred UAE citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq due to regional developments and called on citizens already in those countries to leave and return to the UAE as soon as possible.

Day 122: IRGC Navy spokesperson Akbarzadeh dies in car 'mishap'

Day 121: Iran warns against attacks from regional territory

Day 120: US–Iran ceasefire under strain as drones target Bahrain

Day 119: Lebanon, Israel, US sign trilateral deal in Washington

Day 118: Oil price spikes after IRGC strike on ship in Hormuz

Day 117: Iran-Gulf reconciliation talks expected in Saudi Arabia