Indirect technical talks between the United States and Iran are underway in the Qatari capital of Doha, with Qatar and Pakistan jointly mediating discussions aimed at implementing commitments under the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding, according to an informed source cited by Reuters on Wednesday.

The negotiations are being conducted at the technical level through intermediaries, with American and Iranian representatives not meeting face-to-face. The discussions follow preparatory meetings held on Tuesday between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Although Witkoff and Kushner helped lay the groundwork for the talks, they are not directly participating in the current sessions.

A diplomat familiar with the negotiations said the Doha meetings are intended to build on progress achieved during the Lake Lucerne Summit.

According to a senior Iranian official, the talks are centered on two key issues: the release of frozen Iranian assets and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz. One of the most significant unresolved issues remains approximately $6 billion in Iranian assets held in Qatar, which have not yet been transferred to Tehran. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari described the matter as one of the most sensitive outstanding elements of the agreement.

Iranian officials have reiterated that further negotiations on a final agreement depend on Washington fulfilling its commitments under the June 17 interim accord. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Tehran will not move forward with broader negotiations until the United States begins implementing key provisions, including halting military operations on all fronts, guaranteeing safe commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, issuing sanctions waivers for Iranian crude exports, and unfreezing Iranian financial assets.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also confirmed that the Iranian delegation has no plans to engage in direct meetings with American officials during the Doha talks.

Meanwhile, Qatar reaffirmed its role as a mediator, emphasizing that all parties had underscored the importance of preserving the Lebanon ceasefire as part of wider efforts to maintain regional stability. Doha said its objective remains achieving a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to tensions between the United States and Iran.