Donald Trump has once again moved the Middle East chessboard with an announcement that Iran does not confirm. The ultra-president of the United States assured this Monday that Tehran has requested a meeting that would take place this Tuesday in Doha, capital of Qatar, while Iranian authorities deny that there are technical meetings scheduled this week. The contradiction comes with the ceasefire hanging by a thread and the Strait of Hormuz once again at the center of global tension.
“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA,” Trump posted on Truth Social, his own social network. The White House later came out to support that version. Its spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, assured that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, will travel to Qatar to hold “high-level meetings” with Iranian representatives, accompanied by technical talks on the memorandum of understanding.
Tehran has cooled the announcement. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that “no meetings of the technical working groups are scheduled for this week” and maintained that consultations with Qatar continue through the usual channels. According to Iran, any round must be held when the conditions are met and the date and place are agreed upon through the mediating countries.
The clash of versions is not minor. Washington tries to present the diplomatic path as alive after several days of attacks and reprisals. Iran, on the other hand, avoids appearing as someone who goes to a table marked by Trump while denouncing breaches of the ceasefire. The White House spokesperson also raised the tone by warning that “violence will be met with violence” and by boasting that Trump “is not afraid” to use American military power.
Hormuz, oil and a ceasefire on the brink
The tension is concentrated in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transited before the war. In recent days, the United States has accused Iran of attacks against merchant ships and has responded with bombings on Iranian military targets. Tehran, for its part, denounces aggressions by Washington and claims to have attacked US infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The provisional agreement signed this month sought to curb the war, reopen Hormuz, and open a period for negotiating a broader pact. That memorandum already arrives damaged at the possible Doha meeting. Trump insists that the United States is fulfilling its part and links de-escalation to the drop in oil prices, an argument with electoral weight within his economic discourse. The reality is more fragile: any new incident in Hormuz could again hit energy markets and escalate regional tension.
Qatar and Pakistan are acting as main mediators, while Oman has opened talks with Iran on the management of the strait. Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has also assured that Qatar will release 6 billion dollars of frozen Iranian assets, although neither the United States nor Doha have confirmed that transfer for now.
The photo Trump seeks is that of a president capable of forcing Iran to sit in Doha. The problem is that Tehran, at least for now, does not accept the White House's script. Diplomacy remains open, but surrounded by drones, oil, diverted ships, and cross-threats.
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