Qatar Mediators Fly to Tehran as Both Sides Signal Willingness to Keep Talking Despite the Formal End of the Interim Ceasefire. Next Round Expected in Switzerland Next Week
According to Axios, President Trump declared on Truth Social that the ceasefire with Iran is “OVER” but crucially, both sides have agreed to continue negotiations toward a broader agreement, even as the formal interim ceasefire memorandum lapsed.
Trump posted: “Cease Fire is OVER! We have agreed to continue talks in order to, hopefully, reach a final and agreeable solution.” The declaration came amid an escalating exchange of strikes between US and Iranian forces in and around the Strait of Hormuz, and after Iran conducted retaliatory drone and missile attacks on Gulf states including Kuwait and Bahrain.
Despite the inflammatory language, the diplomatic machinery has not stopped. Qatari mediators flew to Tehran on Friday to press the case for a renewed framework. Both the US and Iranian sides have indicated they want to reach a memorandum of understanding; a less formal but still binding structure that could form the basis of a more durable deal. A further round of talks is expected next week, with Switzerland being discussed as a neutral venue.
The ceasefire is over in name. The negotiations are not. Whether they survive the next exchange of strikes or the next Truth Social post is the question that will define the next 10 days of Middle East diplomacy.
Check out our previous coverage of the US-Iran conflict and Gulf security on The Trusted Times.
