US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that a meeting involving American and Iranian representatives would take place in Doha on Tuesday, describing the discussions as potentially significant for efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme.

However, Iranian officials swiftly denied that any formal negotiations with the United States had been scheduled, exposing a sharp divergence between the public positions of Washington and Tehran ahead of the proposed talks.

Trump Says Doha Meeting Could Be Significant

Speaking at the White House during the signing of an executive order, Trump said discussions with Iran were expected to take place in Doha, Qatar.

“There’ll be a meeting on that tomorrow in Doha… we’ll see how that goes. But we’re doing very well on that front. The meeting in Doha is going to be perhaps important, perhaps not; we’re going to find out,” Trump said.

The president reiterated that Washington’s central objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“It’s really very simple, it’s the denuclearisation of Iran. We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, and they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon, and they’ve agreed to that, in all fairness,” he said.

Earlier, Trump had posted on his Truth Social platform that Iran had requested the meeting and that it would take place in Doha.

White House Confirms Diplomatic Engagement

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later echoed Trump’s remarks during an interview with Fox News, saying the meeting had been arranged at Iran’s request.

The administration has reportedly tasked US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner with leading the American delegation in Doha.

The planned diplomatic engagement follows recent tensions between the two countries after maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz triggered a brief exchange of military action.

Iran Rejects Claims Of Scheduled Negotiations

Iranian officials, however, disputed the American account and insisted no talks with US representatives had been arranged.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said an Iranian delegation would be travelling to Qatar, but stressed that the visit was unrelated to any meeting with American officials.

According to Baghaei, the trip was intended solely to follow up on provisions contained in an existing memorandum of understanding between Iran and Qatar.

“The fact that US representatives are travelling to Qatar has no connection with the trip of the Iranian delegation,” he said.

Baghaei also maintained that negotiations on any comprehensive agreement had not yet begun.

He said the conditions outlined under Article 13 of the existing memorandum had not yet been fulfilled and therefore the process had not entered the stage of formal treaty negotiations.

Qatar Continues Mediation Role

The conflicting statements highlight the challenges facing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran despite recent indications of renewed engagement.

Analysts note that both governments face domestic and international pressures that could influence how publicly they frame any diplomatic contact.

While the Trump administration has sought to project momentum towards a breakthrough on Iran’s nuclear programme, Iranian officials appear keen to avoid the perception of negotiating under direct American pressure.

Despite the public disagreement, diplomatic channels remain active, with Qatar continuing to serve as a key intermediary between the two sides.

Doha has played a central role in facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran in recent years, particularly during periods of heightened regional tension.

Whether Tuesday’s engagements evolve into formal negotiations remains uncertain, but the contrasting accounts from both governments underline the fragile and complex nature of current US-Iran relations.

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