Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the ongoing US-Iran negotiations and developments in Lebanon, according to N12. The call underscores Doha's continued role as a key mediator on both files.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held a phone conversation on Wednesday afternoon with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, discussing U.S.-Iran negotiations and developments in Lebanon, according to N12's Amichai Stein. The call follows the Qatari Emir's meeting with Witkoff and Kushner in Doha earlier Wednesday (as The Zioneer reported at 16:29 Jerusalem) and the arrival of the two envoys in Doha on Monday (19:39 Jerusalem) — a visit that originally drew a denial from Iran that high-level meetings were planned.
The thread of reported contacts has thickened over the past week. On Monday, The Zioneer reported at 19:39 Jerusalem that indirect technical talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations had begun in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, though Witkoff and Kushner were not participating. That report capped a sequence in which Iran first denied talks were underway (version 1, Monday 19:39 Jerusalem), then said a Doha delegation was focusing on unfreezing assets (version 2, same timestamp), and finally confirmed a dialogue with Qatari mediators on implementing an interim agreement would take place Wednesday (versions 3-4, also Monday 19:39 Jerusalem, before the talks shifted to Wednesday). By Monday evening, multiple outlets — including Reuters and Al-Arabiya — had reported that indirect talks would go ahead, with sources confirming the format.
Qatar's role as a key mediator in both the U.S.-Iran nuclear track and Lebanon ceasefire efforts has been well established in the desk's reporting. As The Zioneer reported on June 22, a late-night round of talks in Switzerland included U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Kushner, and the Qatari PM alongside Iranian representatives. Sheikh Mohammed has also spoken with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts on regional security (June 22). The brief N12 report does not disclose the content of the call, leaving open what specifics were discussed regarding the Iran talks or Lebanon.
It remains unclear whether this call signals a shift in the format or level of engagement — for instance, whether the envoys are now directly involved in the talks after staying outside the technical sessions earlier this week. No further details have been released by Qatari or U.S. officials.
9 developments
- DevelopingQatar, Turkey express satisfaction with US-Iran negotiations progress
- DevelopingWitkoff and Kushner arrive in Qatar for Iran nuclear talks
- StrongQatar reaffirms support for US-Iran negotiations, calls for durable solutions
- DevelopingQatar PM talks with Turkish, Egyptian counterparts on regional security efforts
Source and signal
- Internal intake