US Envoys Warn Iran Against Strait of Hormuz Toll to Preserve Agreement

According to Axios, US White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are communicating to Iran that its demand to impose tolls on passage through the Strait of Hormuz could jeopardize the agreement between Tehran and Washington.

The US official cited by Axios stated that Washington's message to Tehran highlighted that the potential earnings from oil sales following sanctions relief would far surpass any revenue from tolls.

Axios also reported that the indirect talks held in Doha proceeded positively, resulting in an understanding to maintain calm in the coming week to facilitate progress across various areas.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari announced the conclusion on Wednesday of separate meetings in Doha between Qatari and Pakistani mediators and the American and Iranian negotiators.

Al-Ansari posted on his X account: "Today, Qatari and Pakistani mediators concluded separate meetings in Doha with American and Iranian negotiators, achieving positive progress on issues related to the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, based on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne summit."

He added, "The parties agreed to continue discussions in the upcoming period, with the date of the next meeting to be set as soon as possible following the conclusion of the funeral ceremonies for the former Iranian Supreme Leader."

On Wednesday, indirect technical talks began in Doha between US and Iranian officials through mediators as part of diplomatic efforts to ease tensions after reciprocal strikes between the two sides.

Since mid-June, Washington and Tehran have engaged in negotiations expected to last 60 days with the possibility of extension, under a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, aiming to end the conflict triggered in the Middle East by a US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.

Following reciprocal attacks related to control over the Strait of Hormuz, the US and Iran announced on Tuesday that they would send officials to Qatar to hold meetings to implement the memorandum's provisions.

The memorandum includes several key points, notably a ceasefire on all fronts, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, releasing part of Tehran’s frozen assets, and conducting negotiations to reach a final agreement within a 60-day renewable deadline.

US President Donald Trump praised the progress in the negotiations on Wednesday, describing the meetings between the parties as "very good."

Trump explained, "Based on how things are going, the denuclearization of Iran is progressing well. They have held very good meetings, and we will see what happens," adding, "We hit them very hard... but we are communicating very well."