Iran has declared it will refuse direct talks with the senior U.S. delegation, which includes Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, who arrived in the Middle East. Meanwhile, reports indicate that President Trump is considering plans for a new military strike if diplomacy fails.
A senior Iranian official revealed that Iran will not participate in direct meetings with the senior U.S. delegation visiting the Middle East following prior violent clashes. He stated that both sides need to clearly define the terms of the ceasefire agreement signed two weeks ago before moving on to more difficult discussions, such as limiting Iran's nuclear program.
This stance reflects the significant differences between the two parties regarding the preliminary agreement, which requires Iran to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives, with a 60-day negotiation period to reach a permanent peace deal.
Although Jared Kushner and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Doha, Qatar for high-level talks, both Iran and Qatar, as the host, confirmed that the U.S. delegation would only meet with "intermediaries" rather than directly with Iranian representatives.
Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the two sides will begin technical negotiations at a lower level through intermediaries. Meanwhile, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "No meeting schedules with the American side at any level have been set for the coming days."
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. sources, that President Donald Trump has discussed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Kene regarding the possibility of returning to full-scale war and launching additional military strikes. However, the report noted that Trump has decided to allow more time for diplomacy despite his earlier public threats against Iran.
Regarding maritime transport, operations have partially resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the conflict erupted on 28 February. However, a new dispute is emerging as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, head of Iran's negotiating team, announced on national television that "the sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman," and Iran plans to impose transit fees by mid-August when the 60-day grace period ends.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance responded strongly on The Michael Knowles Show, emphasizing that the United States will never accept Iran charging fees in these international waters. He also revealed that oil flow through the strait has returned to pre-war levels and, on some days, even surpassed them.
Despite high uncertainty, global oil prices began to decline over the weekend after the U.S. bombed an Iranian naval base in retaliation for an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship, while Iran counterattacked by striking U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
However, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that countries with fragile economies remain highly vulnerable to rising consumer goods prices and oil costs.
Additionally, the conflict has driven global inflation higher, creating enormous political pressure on President Trump ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November, which will determine which party controls Congress. This has led Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to call on oil retailers to quickly reduce domestic retail prices.
The temporary agreement between the U.S. and Iran originally included ending the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, which Iran supports. However, Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament and an ally of Hezbollah, expressed skepticism about the framework of the U.S.-mediated agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
Analysts assess that this agreement risks prolonged stalemate because it links the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon with Hezbollah's disarmament—a condition difficult for both sides to accept.