US and Iran negotiators head to Doha, but meeting uncertain

Iranian and US negotiating teams were due ‌in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no ⁠meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.

US President Donald Trump is sending his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiating team, according to his press secretary Karoline Leavitt. While Iran is sending its technical delegation to Qatar this week, Foreign Ministry ‌spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said this had "no relation" to the Americans' visit and no talks between ‌the two sides were scheduled.

"We will not have any negotiation meetings at any level with the American ‌side in the coming days," Baghaei said.

The disagreement over whether the sides would even meet underscored the fragility of a June 17 accord to pause a conflict that ‌has disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has sought leverage by flexing its control of the ⁠strait shared with neighboring Oman, saying it plans to charge fees to ships using the waterway ⁠and obstructing vessels that stray outside defined paths.

Oman, Iran meet on Strait of Hormuz

On Monday, Oman and Iran held the first meeting of their Joint Committee on the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat to exchange views on the future management of the strategic waterway and related maritime issues, Oman's Foreign Ministry has said.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen coordination on matters concerning the Strait of Hormuz in line with the mutual interests and sovereignty of both countries, while reaffirming their commitment to international law.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said that Oman does not support imposing transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi noted on the same day that Iran and Oman have authority over the Strait of Hormuz's management, which will not return to what it was before the US and Israeli war against Iran.

Iran's priority is reaching an agreement with Oman on relevant arrangements in the strait, but Iran would advance the issue alone if Oman, for any reason, is not interested, Gharibabadi told Iran's state-run IRIB TV.

Iran also dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks that France had decided to "work jointly" with its partners on mine clearance in the strait.

Israel threatens military action against Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Monday that Israel could be at war with Iran as early as "tomorrow."

Katz said the Israeli military had identified targets inside Iran and was prepared to launch military action independently if necessary. He outlined two scenarios that could trigger renewed fighting – if President Trump concluded that negotiations had failed and decided to resume military action, or if Iran attacked Israel.

He also said that Israeli forces will not withdraw from established "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria or Gaza, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

(With input from agencies)