US envoys land in Doha for Iran talks as Hormuz tensions flare

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Doha on Tuesday for indirect talks on the Iran standoff. The two U.S. envoys won't be sitting across from Iranian diplomats. Qatari officials are going between the delegations, and Iran's Foreign Ministry said there would be no direct contact.

Their visit followed a difficult few days in the Persian Gulf. On Sunday, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at the U.S. Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and at Port Salman in Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based. Kuwait's air defenses intercepted the incoming fire with no casualties reported. In Bahrain, munitions struck the top floor of an eight-story building near the international airport. Bahrain reported no deaths.

The Sunday attacks came after U.S. strikes on Iranian targets near the strait. Before that, Iran had struck two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including one carrying Qatari crude, and the U.S. retaliated. Iran then warned it would halt all negotiations if the airstrikes continued.

The Doha sessions are aimed at implementing the ceasefire agreement the two sides signed on June 17.

For background on shipping through this region, read about the Strait of Hormuz’s role in sea trade, how shipping routes change during conflicts, and tracking oil tankers on MarineRadar.