President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff are traveling to Doha this week for high-level negotiations with Iran, the White House confirmed Monday. The trip follows Tehran's request for a meeting, as both sides move to de-escalate tensions in the Persian Gulf after months of conflict.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the development Monday on Fox News's “Fox & Friends,” stating that Kushner and Witkoff would lead the U.S. delegation. “I just spoke with the president about it. Iran has requested a meeting this week, so, special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week as we continue to discuss the memorandum of understanding,” Leavitt said. She added that “on the sidelines of those high-level talks will be the technical talks.”
Trump took to Truth Social early Monday to confirm the development, writing: “Iran HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” The president's post came after a weekend of renewed hostilities, including U.S. Central Command strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for an attack on a commercial vessel near Oman.
The diplomatic push follows a fragile agreement late Sunday between Washington and Tehran to “stand down for now” and allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely. A U.S. official told The Hill that “technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the MOU. Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely.” The deal marks a temporary pause in a conflict that has roiled global energy markets for four months.
Leavitt struck a firm note on U.S. resolve, warning: “As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met with violence.” The war has strained the global economy, driven up U.S. gas prices, and frayed relations with traditional allies.
Last week, Iran asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, demanding that all vessels coordinate with Tehran for safe passage. That move came after Trump accused Iran of using a one-way attack drone to strike a commercial ship off Oman's coast. The standoff has drawn sharp criticism from some lawmakers, including Senator Rick Scott, who has argued that Qatar is “not our friend” in these talks. Meanwhile, earlier efforts by Vice President Vance yielded only modest progress amid ongoing hurdles over nuclear issues and Lebanon.
The Doha meetings are expected to address the broader memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, with technical talks covering security guarantees, shipping rights, and regional stability. The outcome could shape the trajectory of a conflict that has already seen Iran strike Kuwait and Bahrain and threaten to break off all negotiations entirely.
As Kushner and Witkoff touch down in Qatar, the administration faces a delicate balancing act: maintain pressure on Tehran while avoiding a wider war that could further destabilize the Middle East and roil energy markets. The talks represent the most direct engagement between the two adversaries in months, with both sides signaling a willingness to test diplomacy—even as fighting continues on the ground.
