Overview
- Qatar and Pakistan told reporters that indirect U.S.–Iran talks in Doha made "positive progress" and the parties agreed to meet again after the state funerals that begin in Tehran this weekend.
- Iranian officials say an understanding was reached to free roughly $6 billion held in Qatar for essential imports, a concession framed as humanitarian relief rather than broad sanctions relief.
- Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf denied IAEA access to nuclear sites hit in recent strikes while IAEA chief Rafael Grossi says inspectors will need access to meet verification requirements, leaving a major technical and political gap.
- Tehran and Oman reported a draft mechanism for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz that would include payments or fees, and Iran’s military warned that any U.S. interference in the waterway would meet a rapid response.
- State funerals for Ali Khamenei open a six- to seven-day, high-security public ritual in Tehran designed to project unity and test the new leadership’s hold as senior IRGC figures make rare public appearances.