U.S. Official Says Technical Talks With Iran Are Proceeding on Schedule
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A U.S. official said technical talks with Iran are proceeding according to the agreed schedule, denying reports that the planned discussions had been canceled. The official told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that the next round of talks with Iran in Switzerland had not been called off, and that the technical discussions linked to implementation of a memorandum of understanding between the two sides were still on track.
The statement comes amid conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran. Reuters reported that Iran had canceled its participation in scheduled technical talks with the United States because of recent attacks on the country and what Tehran described as unmet conditions under the memorandum of understanding.
According to Reuters, Iranian official Mehdi Fazaeili told state television that one of the unresolved issues was Iran’s access to previously unfrozen funds. That account suggests Tehran may be linking its participation in the technical track to practical steps it says were promised under earlier understandings.
The talks are taking place against a tense regional backdrop, with renewed U.S.-Iran military exchanges and continuing concern over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Axios reported that the United States and Iran had agreed to halt mutual strikes and meet in Doha on Tuesday to address tensions surrounding the strait.
The diplomatic track is therefore more than a procedural meeting. It is tied to several sensitive files, including maritime security, sanctions, frozen assets, and the broader effort to prevent a new escalation between Washington and Tehran. Recent reports also indicate that technical discussions have been used to follow up on arrangements connected to the Strait of Hormuz and wider de-escalation efforts.
Markets are watching the file closely because any renewed disruption in the Gulf could affect oil prices, shipping costs, and insurance rates. Reuters reported that oil prices rose after renewed U.S.-Iran strikes, as traders assessed risks to energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, Washington’s message is that the technical process remains alive, while Tehran’s public position signals that participation may depend on whether it believes previous commitments are being implemented. That gap leaves the diplomatic channel open, but fragile, as both sides test whether technical talks can survive the latest round of regional escalation.
