Qatar Sets Timeline for Next Round of US-Iran Memorandum Talks After Khamenei’s Funeral

Qatar’s foreign ministry has confirmed that fresh talks between US and Iranian negotiators are underway. The next round of discussions is set to happen right after the funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wrap up.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari has confirmed that mediators recently held separate meetings with both US and Iranian representatives. These discussions focused on the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran. The next round of US-Iran talks will be scheduled shortly after the mourning ceremonies for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei conclude.

Earlier, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib-Abadi revealed that the Iranian delegation met twice in Doha. Those sessions brought together envoys from Qatar and Pakistan to review the steps for putting the US-Iran memorandum into action.

Al-Ansari shared an update on X, noting that Qatari and Pakistani mediators had wrapped up their separate meetings with the US and Iranian negotiators in Doha. He said the discussions around the memorandum — signed in Islamabad — produced “positive progress,” especially considering the outcomes of the Switzerland summit at Lake Lucerne.

“The two sides agreed to continue negotiations soon. The next meeting is planned to take place as soon as possible after the mourning events for the former Supreme Leader of Iran (Ali Khamenei) come to an end,” Al-Ansari wrote on X.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that the farewell ceremonies and burial for Ali Khamenei will stretch from July 4 to July 9. Ceremonies in Tehran are planned from July 4 to 6. On July 7, Qom will host a special event. Mourning gatherings in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala are set for July 8. The burial itself will take place in Mashhad on July 9.

Iran and the United States remotely signed the memorandum on the night of June 18. The agreement aims to bring an end to the military conflict that began on February 28. The very first clause of the memorandum calls for a ceasefire between the allies of both nations in Lebanon. The Lebanon conflict pits Iran-backed Hezbollah against Israel, which is a key US ally in the region.