US and Iran to hold preparatory meetings in Doha before signing deal The United States and Iran will hold indirect talks in Doha this week ahead of the formal signing of the ceasefire deal, AFP reported. “Separate preparatory meetings with each side will now take place in Doha this week, ahead of the official signing in Switzerland and the start of the technical talks,” a diplomatic source said. The source added that Qatari mediators had departed Tehran after “17 hours of intensive negotiations”, which began on Sunday and culminated in an agreement.