The US President Donald Trump stated on social media that Iran had requested a meeting with US counterparts, though Iranian officials said no such meeting was scheduled.
Taking to TruthSocial, Trump stated, "IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!"
Shortly after the post went viral all over the social media, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be "flying to Doha for high level meetings this week".
The US president has tried to preserve an increasingly fragile interim deal as hostilities have mounted in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, which may raise oil prices and undermine Mr Trump’s claims to voters that inflation in America was easing.
Mr Trump said the meeting with Iran would happen on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian had stated six billion dollars (£4.54 billion) in frozen Iranian assets would be released by Qatar as negotiations with the United States were challenged by attacks across the Persian Gulf this weekend.
However, the US officials stated no frozen Iranian assets have been released.
Mr Pezeshkian was cited by the state-run IRNA news agency as stating, “Based on the plans made, six billion dollars out of the total 12 billion dollars of Iranian resources in Qatar will be released and returned to the country, and necessary follow-ups are being carried out.”
The remarks appeared aimed at selling the Iranian public on the interim deal.
Iran and US exchanged strikes
A few days earlier, both the countries got involved into a renewed conflict by exchanging strikes, as Iran launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday following new US air strikes against the Islamic Republic, and threatened a “complete halt” in negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks.
The situation has caused immense confusion regarding the next round of talks between Iran and the US.
Pakistan, a key mediator, has stated the talks may resume on Tuesday. The Trump administration on Sunday stated that nothing has been cancelled and technical talks are on track for the coming days.
However, Kazem Gharibabadi, a senior negotiator for Iran, refused any talks that had been scheduled, in comments published by IRNA.
He stated, “Although consultations with Qatar, including on following up on the implementation of the other side’s commitments, are continuing as usual, reports by some media about technical talks by the working groups being held in Doha are not confirmed.”
Technical talks involve reduced-level diplomats working on the specifics of an agreement that would draw the leading players from Iran and the US back to the table.
The diplomat added "communications channels created to de-escalate any incidents are in place," following strikes between the US and Iran.
