Trump claims Iran seeks talks after both sides violate fragile ceasefire over weekend; Doha meeting on Tuesday, says POTUS

US President Donald Trump took to social networking site Truth Social on Monday, June 29, to announced that talks will take place in Qatar's capital Doha the next day. The POTUS claimed that the talks are arranged at Iran's request. Trump wrote: "IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!"

It could not be immediately ascertained as to who would represent both sides in the meeting or which issues would be discussed. The development comes after the US and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes over the weekend and accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month following months of hostilities.

According to foreign media reports, the US is expected to send Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for the talks in Doha. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly said that Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Qatar this week while technical discussions would continue alongside the said meeting.

"As far as we're concerned, we're holding up our end of the ceasefire. Violence will be met with violence," Leavitt reportedly told American media.

However, separate foreign media reports suggested that Iran had publicly denied plans for technical talks this week.

The proposed talks come amid efforts to preserve a fragile US-Iran ceasefire after both countries traded military strikes over the weekend.

Trump's Doha announcement

Trump's latest Truth Social post marks the first public indication from the US president that direct talks with Iran could resume following the recent exchange of strikes.

If the meeting goes ahead as announced, it would represent the first high-level engagement between the two sides since tensions resurfaced over the Strait of Hormuz during the past week.

Fragile US-Iran ceasefire and 14-point interim deal

Earlier this month, Washington and Tehran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) -- an interim deal -- aimed at ending months of conflict. That deal, announced on June 17, temporarily restored commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz -- a crucial maritime region that has been at the centre of the West Asia crisis.

The 14-point pact also paved the way for negotiations on a permanent US-Iran truce.

The ceasefire has come under renewed pressure following attacks around the strategically important shipping route.

What happened between Washington and Tehran?

The latest escalations began after a Panama-flagged cargo vessel was reportedly struck by an Iranian drone in the strait. In what was described as retaliatory response, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out strikes on multiple Iranian military targets.

CENTCOM is the American military command responsible for US operations across the Middle East, Central Asia and nearby regions.

The US body said that American fighter aircraft had targeted military equipment, communication systems, air defence positions and drone storage facilities located in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly claimed it retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones towards US military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The US CENTCOM said Iran had been given an opportunity to honour the deal but accused it of launching a drone attack against commercial shipping instead.

Iran, on the other hand, alleged that the US violated the ceasefire through what it described as attacks on its coastal military positions, with Iranian officials reportedly warning that continued military action could completely derail the peace process.

Why makes the Strait of Hormuz important

The Strait of Hormuz -- connecting the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf and ultimately with the Arabian Sea -- is one of the world's busiest energy shipping routes. Normally, it enables the supply of roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas.

Any disruption in the narrow waterway can have significant implications for global energy prices, shipping costs and international trade.

The latest round of diplomacy is therefore being closely watched by oil markets and governments across the world as both countries attempt to prevent the conflict from escalating further.