Iran is downplaying the purpose of its visit to Doha this week, insisting that no negotiations with its American counterparts will take place in the Qatari capital.
Yet regardless of how the Islamic Republic chooses to frame its participation, diplomacy is expected to take place in Doha this week following a tense exchange of strikes over the weekend.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Doha, two US officials told CNN. An Iranian delegation will also be in the city this week, spokesperson for the Iranian negotiating team Esmail Baghaei said yesterday.
Confusion arose after Iran declared there would be no negotiations with the US in Doha, even as it confirmed it is sending an expert delegation this week to negotiate the release of its frozen assets under a previous agreement with Washington.
A diplomatic source told CNN yesterday that teams from both sides were expected in Doha this week.
“The fact that US representatives are traveling to Qatar has nothing to do with the Iranian delegation’s visit, which is being conducted to follow up on (the agreement),” Baghaei told reporters Monday.
Regardless of how Iran describes the visit, the simultaneous presence of expert delegations from Tehran and Washington in Doha following the weekend’s tensions is significant and cannot be overlooked.
Iranian negotiators’ attempts to distance themselves from any talks may also be a tactic to ease domestic pressure from hardline factions, which have repeatedly accused them of conceding too much and appearing overly accommodating to the US.
Framing the visit as focused on securing the release of funds – rather than negotiations – could be another way to relieve that pressure.