U.S. and Iran set for new talks, Trump says, after Hormuz clashes threatened peace deal
US and Iran Pause Hostilities After Weekend of Escalating Strikes02:09June 29, 2026, 7:46 AM EDT / Updated June 29, 2026, 7:50 AM EDTBy Keir Simmons and Alexander SmithJERUSALEM — The United States and Iran will hold new talks on Tuesday in Qatar, President Donald Trump said Monday, after the two sides appeared to step back from a wave of attacks that threatened to derail peace efforts.
“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
There was no immediate reaction from Tehran. Hours earlier, a senior Iranian official denied any technical discussions were scheduled to take place.
Technical teams working on the implementation of the initial agreement between the two sides are scheduled to meet in Doha in the coming days, a source with knowledge of the talks told NBC News.
Communications channels created to de-escalate any incidents are in place and technical talks are set to continue, the source added.
This follows a series of escalating reciprocal strikes over the weekend that threatened to unravel efforts to secure a permanent end to the war.
The clashes were sparked by efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian oversight, which drew angry warnings and attacks from Tehran as it fights to maintain its grip on the crucial waterway.
Days of public dispute over the terms of the deal — both around the future of the key trade route and the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets — escalated into new military attacks after Iran attacked ships transiting the strait.
Bahrain and Kuwait came under Iranian attacks early Sunday, hours after the U.S. military said it had hit multiple targets across Iran in response to “continued aggression” against commercial shipping.
Tehran threatened a “complete halt” to negotiations if Washington continued its attacks.
Trump warned in a Truth Social post Saturday that “there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started.”
The clash centers on control over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran says it retains under the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the U.S.
The establishment of a new United Nations-backed route near Oman for inbound and outbound traffic led to an uptick in ships making it through the strait last week.
Iran views this route as unacceptable, and hit back against this test to its control over the waterway.
After the clashes over the weekend, multiple reports cited U.S. officials as saying that Washington and Tehran had agreed to pause strikes and continue talks on reaching a final deal to end the war.
But in the latest bout of public uncertainty, a senior Iranian official suggested this may not be the case.
Kazem Gharibabadi, a senior negotiator and deputy foreign minister, denied any talks had been scheduled, in comments published by IRNA.
“Although consultations with Qatar, including on following up on the implementation of the other side’s commitments, are continuing as usual, reports by some media about technical talks by the working groups being held in Doha are not confirmed,” he said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meanwhile praised the interim agreement and said that it would see $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets released by Qatar.
He called the deal “a great victory for the Iranian people,” in comments published Monday by the state-run IRNA news agency.
Keir Simmons reported from Jerusalem, and Alexander Smith from London.
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Keir SimmonsKeir Simmons is chief international correspondent for NBC News, based in Dubai.
Alexander SmithAlexander Smith is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital based in London.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
