Iran Keeps Doha Talks Alive for $12 Billion Despite US Strikes Killing 4 Soldiers
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 26
Iran Keeps Doha Talks Alive for $12 Billion Despite US Strikes Killing 4 Soldiers
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 26
Doha talks continued Tuesday even after US strikes hit Iranian missile launchers and alleged mine-laying efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, killing four Iranian soldiers in Washington’s first military action since the 8 April ceasefire.
Iran called the attack a ceasefire violation and vowed not to leave it unanswered, but withheld immediate reprisals as speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stayed in Qatar to secure release of more than $12 billion in frozen assets.
That asset transfer has become the last major dispute, with Tehran also seeking 60 days of sanctions relief on oil and petrochemical exports and a separate 30-day timetable to reopen Iranian oil ports and restore commercial shipping through Hormuz.
Brent crude rose 4% on the renewed fighting, while Trump convened a rare Camp David cabinet meeting, underscoring how close the conflict appears to a decisive diplomatic or military turn.
The negotiations remain politically fragile as hardliners in Iran, Washington and Jerusalem resist concessions, Israel’s operations in Lebanon continue, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei publicly projected confidence that regional momentum favors Iran.
With talks and attacks simultaneous, is this a path to peace or a pause before a larger war?
Is unlocking $12 billion in frozen assets the true key to peace, or a prelude to renewed conflict?
$12 Billion Standoff: US-Iran Negotiations, Hormuz Blockade, and the Global Economic Fallout
Overview
The report highlights the tense situation between the US and Iran, where recent US military strikes near Bandar Abbas have added pressure to ongoing talks in Qatar. Despite these attacks, both sides are still negotiating, but the ceasefire remains fragile. The US insists the Strait of Hormuz must stay open, especially as the Trump administration faces domestic pressure from rising costs and upcoming elections. Iran is demanding $12 billion in frozen assets, raising the stakes for a deal. The urgency to resolve these issues is clear, as continued conflict threatens both regional stability and global energy markets.