Trump says US, Iran to hold talks in Doha on Tuesday

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. and Iranian officials will hold fresh talks Tuesday in Qatar’s capital, following a weekend of hostilities that included U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran. A senior Iranian official earlier had denied that technical talks were expected in Doha in the coming days. CNBC has contacted Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is awaiting a response.

The announcement came after the U.S. struck Iranian military targets over the weekend in response to Tehran’s latest attacks on commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. Trump on Sunday again threatened Iran with annihilation, writing on Truth Social that “there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable” and that if military action becomes necessary, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

U.S. officials said both sides agreed to pause hostilities and allow commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely.

“Technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the MOU,” a U.S. official told CNBC on Sunday. “Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely.”

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling roughly 20% of global oil traffic.

In separate posts earlier Monday, Trump welcomed recent declines in oil and gas prices, noting that U.S. crude had fallen to levels last seen before the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28.