US and Iranian negotiators convened separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday, achieving “positive progress” and committing to further discussions, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.
The next round of talks will be held “at the earliest possible time” following the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which begins Saturday in Tehran, as stated by spokesperson Majed al-Ansari.
US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, participated in efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire, alongside Iran’s chief negotiator, Kazem Gharibabadi. The discussions focused on finalizing an interim maritime agreement to facilitate a broader resolution, though disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon’s conflict remain significant obstacles.
A naval incident underscored tensions on Wednesday when a foreign container ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz while navigating what Iran labeled an unauthorized route. Iranian state media emphasized the event to reinforce Tehran’s longstanding claims of territorial authority over the critical waterway, which historically handled 20% of global oil and gas shipments during peacetime.
Since US-Israeli military operations began on February 28, Iran has leveraged its control over the strait to disrupt global energy and supply chains. Under an interim arrangement, vessels have been permitted to transit without fees for 60 days, though Iran demands future payment and route oversight, a stance opposed by the US and Gulf nations. Recent attempts to establish alternative shipping lanes near Oman’s coast, backed by a UN agency, triggered regional attacks, highlighting ongoing volatility.