U.S.-Iran Latest: Talks pause for slain ayatollah’s funeral after Trump and mediators claim progress

U.S.-Iran Talks Halted Amid Ayatollah's Funeral, Progress Claims Uncertain

U S Iran Latest - The U.S. and Iran have paused their indirect negotiations for at least a week to honor the funeral of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This interlude raises several unresolved questions about the pace and scope of the ongoing discussions aimed at ending the conflict.

Two weeks prior, both nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pledging to "negotiate and finalize an agreement" to conclude the war within a "maximum 60-day period, extendable by mutual consent." However, ambiguity persists regarding when the countdown officially began and how many days of active dialogue are counted toward this timeline.

According to Eric Lob, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Program, Iranian officials appear to believe the 60-day window started mid-June with the MoU's signing. "During talks in Doha this week, Iranians indicated they would impose tariffs on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz by mid-August," he explained. "This would follow the expiration of the negotiation period."

"The Iranians seem to think the 60-day negotiating period started in mid-June with the signing of the memorandum of understanding," said Lob. "During indirect negotiations this week, they allegedly stated plans to charge vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after the window ends."

The MoU was designed to restore full access to the Strait of Hormuz and halt hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, allowing negotiators to focus on contentious issues like the nuclear program. Yet, the actual progress remains unclear, with only two brief sessions held since the agreement was signed on June 18—one in Switzerland on June 21, and a one-day meeting in Qatar this week.

It is uncertain whether these two days count toward the 60-day target or if all 14 days since the MoU's signing are considered. Lob noted that discrepancies in how each side tracks time could affect the interpretation of the timeline. "Tehran might be marking days off the calendar regardless of actual engagement," he observed, highlighting the financial benefits Iran could gain by maintaining control over the strait during negotiations.

Lebanon Defends Engagement with Israel

Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, asserted Thursday that the country would not yield any territory to Israel, framing the negotiations as essential to its strategic goals. "We will not relinquish a single inch of Lebanese land," he stated in a presidential post. "Let judgment be passed on us through implementation, for the goals we have set do not differ from the aspirations of all Lebanese."

"We will not relinquish a single inch of Lebanese land," Aoun said. "Let judgment be passed on us through implementation, for the goals we have set do not differ from the aspirations of all Lebanese."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday that military forces would remain in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip in designated security zones "until further notice." Meanwhile, Hezbollah characterized the talks with Israel as "appeasement," underscoring its opposition to any perceived concessions.

Progress Signals and Airline Resumptions

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s leading carrier, announced on Thursday it would reinstate flights to the Middle East following U.S. and mediator assurances of diplomatic momentum. The airline had suspended services to Dubai and Riyadh in February as the war escalated, later imposing fuel surcharges due to rising oil prices.

With the resumption planned for September 1, passenger flights to Dubai will operate daily, while services to Riyadh will resume four times weekly starting August 1. Freight operations to Riyadh will begin earlier, on August 1. The company emphasized it would continue monitoring the region’s situation before restarting operations.

Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, urged mass participation in Khamenei’s funeral to express national solidarity. "I invite all Iranians to write a glorious chapter in Islamic history through your presence," he stated, calling for the event to echo the country’s demand for retribution against U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Funeral ceremonies are set to begin Saturday, with Ghalibaf emphasizing the symbolic weight of the gathering. The pause in negotiations underscores the interplay between political gestures and strategic calculations in the region’s complex dynamics.