Qatari experts join US-Iran talks in New York
Iran's delegation received U.S. visas after an initial denial, as the talks move into a technical phase.
Published · Updated
UpdateFriday, September 25, 2026 at 12:10 PM ET
The talks are unfolding as the region assesses the UAE's suspension of Iranian airline flights. An adviser to Iran has warned that the region will lose air services if Iran's own flights are cut, a dispute running alongside separate talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical experts from Qatar have joined discussions in New York following an initial meeting between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and an Iranian delegation, according to Qatar's state network. The network said visas for the Iranian delegation were initially not approved and were later granted.
The talks have moved into a more detailed technical phase, with sources describing a positive atmosphere in the room.
Iranian president Pezeshkian said the delegation's talks with Kushner and Witkoff focused on Iran's rights under international law and that Iran asked for nothing beyond that.
Qatar's presence in the technical sessions suggests the talks have moved past opening statements into substantive negotiation. That is a continuation of the existing track rather than a shift in direction, and the larger obstacles, sanctions relief and regional tensions, remain unresolved.