President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff [AFP=Yonhap News]

Working-level delegations from the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Doha, Qatar, on the 1st (local time), according to reports from AFP, Reuters, and other foreign media outlets citing diplomatic sources.

A source told AFP, "Building on the progress made at the summit on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, U.S. and Iranian officials have begun indirect working-level talks in Doha with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan."

A senior Iranian official explained to Reuters, "The indirect negotiations began Tuesday night. It is a process where Iran meets with Qatari and Pakistani officials, who then meet with the U.S. side."

The official stated that the indirect talks held throughout the day focused on the issues of Iran's frozen assets and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian working-level delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, paid a courtesy call to the Prime Minister of Qatar and held meetings with the mediators.

Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani the previous day but did not attend the working-level talks.

Kushner and Special Envoy Witkoff subsequently met with the Emir of Qatar to discuss negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the situation in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, sources reported that the top priority for the U.S. in these indirect talks is ensuring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and that intensive diplomatic efforts regarding the situation in Lebanon were underway among the parties involved, including the United States.

Previously, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated during a press briefing the day before, when asked about the contact between the two countries' delegations in Doha, "We have no plans to hold any level of talks with the U.S. side in the coming days."

He added, "What is expected in Doha tomorrow is a discussion with the Qatari side regarding the implementation of several clauses of the memorandum of understanding, including provisions related to the release of Iran's frozen assets."

Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated, "No high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran will be held," adding that "high-level meetings will only be realized if the working-level consultations yield results."

He further added that Special Envoy Witkoff and Kushner, who are visiting Doha, were scheduled to meet with Qatari mediators.