Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Saturday in Miami with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to two sources with knowledge. The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to reach a deal ending the war in Iran. As of early afternoon Saturday, the U.S. was still awaiting Iran's latest response.
The U.S. and Iran are negotiating over a one-page memo to end the war and establish a framework for more detailed talks. While Pakistan has served as the official mediator between the two sides since the conflict began, the Qataris have been working behind the scenes. The White House views them as especially effective in negotiations with Iran, U.S. officials say.
Al-Thani met Vice President Vance in Washington yesterday and was supposed to return to Doha immediately afterward. Instead, he changed plans and traveled to Miami, one source said. While there, he called the Saudi foreign minister to discuss the mediation effort. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The high-level talks underscore the urgency of reaching an agreement, though Iran's response remains a key unknown. The one-page memo approach suggests both sides are seeking a rapid breakthrough before attempting more detailed negotiations. Qatar's involvement alongside Pakistan's official role creates a complex diplomatic landscape.
Success remains far from guaranteed. Iran has not yet delivered its latest response, and the region has seen multiple mediation attempts stall. The lack of State Department comment leaves key details about the meeting's outcomes unconfirmed.