Qatar revealed that direct talks between the United States and Iran still weren’t taking place, though it voiced optimism about “progress” being made.

President Donald Trump has claimed that talks are underway, a charge Tehran denied. Qatar subtly took the side of Iran on the matter in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs readout, saying that adviser to the prime minister and spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed bin Mohammed al Ansari “stressed the importance of returning to the negotiating table as the optimal off-ramp to address the ongoing disputes.”