Iran and the United States have completed a round of indirect negotiations in Doha, Qatar, aimed at advancing a ceasefire and resolving ongoing conflicts following recent military exchanges, according to mediators involved in the talks. The discussions mark a continuation of efforts to de-escalate tensions after a memorandum of understanding was reached in June.

The June agreement, brokered by Qatar and Pakistan, established a 60-day ceasefire to pause hostilities that erupted in late February, including U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iran. It also called for reopening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage critical for global oil shipments. Beyond this, the 14-point deal laid out a roadmap for further talks to permanently end the conflict, covering issues such as management of the Strait of Hormuz, financing Iran’s reconstruction, and the future of Iran’s nuclear program.

Following the latest meeting on Wednesday, Qatar and Pakistan issued a joint statement confirming progress. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, heading Tehran’s delegation, said an agreement was reached to establish a communication channel to monitor and report possible violations of the memorandum. Discussions also addressed the release and use of frozen Iranian assets, with consensus reached to allocate part of an initial $6 billion toward purchasing goods needed by Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking prior to departing Doha, characterized the talks as positive, stating that “the denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well.” A source familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the recent sessions focused primarily on arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz, with the nuclear issue to be addressed more thoroughly in subsequent rounds.

The next phase of indirect U.S.-Iran talks is expected to occur following the funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death in February triggered the initial conflict. His public funeral is scheduled to begin on Saturday in Tehran, with his burial set for July 9 in Mashhad, his birthplace. Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan said they would work to arrange follow-up meetings at the earliest opportunity after the funeral proceedings.

On the ground, despite the ceasefire agreement, intermittent hostilities have continued, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Central Command reported targeting 10 Iranian military sites last weekend in response to what it described as ongoing Iranian aggression against commercial vessels. Iran countered with missile strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which condemned the attacks. Nevertheless, tensions appeared to ease in the days immediately before the Doha talks.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the situation remains tense but relatively quiet compared with previous flare-ups. The National News Agency reported a strike on Wednesday evening in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, without citing casualties. Lebanon continues to await Israel’s withdrawal from designated "pilot zones" under a framework agreement that would allow the Lebanese army to deploy there. Tehran insists that any comprehensive deal must include an end to the parallel Israel-Hezbollah conflict and the removal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

As efforts toward de-escalation persist, the path forward between the United States and Iran remains complex, with diplomatic channels cautiously open amid ongoing regional volatility.