Iran Sends Top Envoys to Qatar for 60-Day Ceasefire and Hormuz Deal
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · May 25
Iran Sends Top Envoys to Qatar for 60-Day Ceasefire and Hormuz Deal
9 articles · Updated · Financial Times · May 25
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi and central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati traveled to Doha on Monday to finalize a draft that would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The package under discussion would have Iran remove mines, gradually restore shipping and waive transit fees, while the US eases its naval blockade, phases in sanctions relief and helps unfreeze overseas assets including $6 billion held in Qatar.
Trump said talks were "proceeding nicely," but Tehran accused Washington of shifting positions and diplomats said mutual distrust still threatens a deal that is not yet fully negotiated.
Brent crude fell 5.2% to $98.15 and US oil dropped 5.5% to $91.28 as traders bet on a breakthrough to reopen the waterway, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil and gas.
Will the peace deal truly neutralize Iran's nuclear ambitions or just press pause on a future, larger conflict?
Is Iran’s pursuit of peace a genuine policy shift or a survival tactic after devastating military and leadership losses?
Can any agreement guarantee free passage in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran’s new taxing authority remains in place?
US-Iran Talks 2026: Sanctions Relief, Nuclear Deadlock, and the Future of Middle East Stability
Overview
As of May 25, 2026, negotiations between the United States and Iran have reached a critical point, with a comprehensive deal nearly complete but still facing major unresolved issues. The proposed agreement includes significant concessions from both sides, such as sanctions relief for Iran and the unlocking of up to $20 billion in frozen assets, with $6 billion held in Qatar. In exchange, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter talks on its nuclear program. However, key disagreements—especially over Iran’s enriched uranium and the conditional release of assets—continue to block a final agreement, leaving the region’s stability uncertain.