Qatar says US-Iran talks continue despite apparent deadlock

Qatar said on Tuesday that US-Iran talks to end the Middle East war are continuing, despite an apparent deadlock seven months into the conflict. Foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashmi said messages continue to pass between the parties via Qatar and its regional partners.

Are the US and Iran still holding talks?

Yes, but indirectly. Qatar says the negotiations take account of "the concerns of the various parties." Al-Hashmi told a regular press briefing that the talks are continuing, though Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz.

What did Qatar's foreign ministry say about the talks?

Al-Hashmi said: "I can confirm that the talks are continuing and the exchange of messages between different parties is continuing via Qatar and its regional partners."

He added: "As you know, the scale of this conflict and the magnitude of the price that the whole world is paying require us to put our best efforts to end this immediately through a negotiable solution on the negotiation table."

Also on Tuesday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha, according to a statement from the royal palace.

What is blocking progress in the US-Iran talks?

Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This follows an April ceasefire, a June memorandum of understanding and talks at the UN General Assembly last month.

On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said talks with the US were "meaningless" and had only resulted in renewed attacks, according to state media.