DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. envoys arrived in Qatar on Tuesday for talks with mediators about the implementation of an initial deal to end the war in Iran, an official said.
The visit by Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special Mideast envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, comes after a weekend of crossfire in the Persian Gulf over efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic.
The envoys won’t be having direct negotiations with Iranian diplomats while in Qatar’s capital, Doha, said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. Instead, mediators are working for the time being as go-betweens for the talks, which won’t include any high-level officials, he added.
Such indirect negotiations have happened in the past between Iran and the U.S. However, the two previous rounds of talks collapsed into the 12-day war Israel launched against Iran in 2025 and the recent Iran war.
“We’re not expecting any high-level Iranian officials at the moment, but as I said, the technical meetings are ongoing ... and they haven’t stopped since then,” al-Ansari told journalists at a weekly news conference.
Iran was also sending a delegation to Qatar this week. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tuesday that Iran has had no plans for a meeting with the American side at any level in the coming days.
“What will take place in Doha tomorrow is a discussion with the Qatari side about implementing parts of the memorandum of understanding, including the release of Iran’s blocked assets,” Baghaei told journalists at his own briefing.
However, that left open the possibility of messages being passed to the Qataris between the two sides.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to an interim deal earlier this month that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium. It also waives U.S.-backed oil sanctions on the country, calls for free traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and gives each side 60 days to hammer out broader agreements.
A fifth of the world's oil was shipped through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began Feb. 28. Iran’s attacks and threats stopped cargo ships and tankers from moving through the strait, creating a global energy crisis.
The strait has long been considered an international waterway despite being in Iran and Oman’s territorial waters.
Both sides traded strikes amid efforts last week to open Oman’s territorial waters in the strait to both inbound and outbound ship traffic from the Persian Gulf. That raised concerns that negotiations to formally end the war could be disrupted.
Iran twice attacked vessels in the strait — including a tanker filled with Qatari crude — and drew retaliatory American airstrikes. Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday.
Children wade in the water with cargo ships at anchor in the background and a fisherman nearby, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, listens as President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meet in the Oval Office at the White House, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 30, 2026--
Peachtree Group announced the origination of $56.4 million in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing for the recapitalization and redevelopment of The CTR (“Center”), the former CNN Center, one of the most recognizable commercial properties in downtown Atlanta.
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The financing supports the ongoing transformation of the approximately 1 million-square-foot mixed-use destination, one of the largest urban redevelopment and repositioning projects currently underway in Atlanta. The project includes the revitalization of the property's expansive retail atrium, the installation of large-scale digital media displays, the modernization of building systems and the preparation of office space for future tenants. C-PACE financing is being utilized to fund eligible improvements, including HVAC systems, glazing, lighting, plumbing infrastructure, LED media displays and related project costs.
“This financing demonstrates how C-PACE has evolved into a powerful capital solution for large-scale redevelopment projects that are remaking cities and repositioning landmark assets for the future,” said Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE for Peachtree Group. “The CTR is not only one of Atlanta's most recognizable properties, but also one of the most important redevelopment opportunities in the Southeast. We are proud to provide financing that supports the property's next chapter and contributes to the continued revitalization of downtown Atlanta.”
Located at the center of Atlanta's Sports and Entertainment District, The CTR is undergoing a major redevelopment led by CP Group. The property, directly connected to State Farm Arena, MARTA and the Omni Hotel, sits steps from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Aquarium and the rapidly evolving Centennial Yards district.
The transaction highlights the growing role of C-PACE financing in urban redevelopment projects. Originally created to help fund energy-efficient building improvements, C-PACE has become an increasingly popular financing tool for property owners seeking long-term, fixed-rate capital while reducing the amount of equity or other higher-cost financing needed for a project.
“Today's commercial real estate market doesn't need more opinions. It needs more solutions,” said Greg Friedman, CEO and managing principal of Peachtree Group. “Higher-for-longer interest rates, tighter liquidity and a wave of upcoming debt maturities have fundamentally changed the market. Success today requires more than capital. It requires experience across origination, underwriting, servicing and asset management. That's where Peachtree's integrated platform is built to deliver solutions for borrowers, investors and partners.”
“Redevelopments of this scale require creative capital solutions,” Schlosser said. “C-PACE is proving to be an effective tool for helping sponsors modernize properties, bridge capital gaps and position assets for long-term success.”
The financing marks another significant Atlanta-area investment for Peachtree Group, reflecting the firm’s commitment to supporting the transformation of some of the region's most prominent commercial real estate assets.
“Atlanta continues to attract investment, population growth and corporate expansion, creating opportunities to reimagine many of the city's most important properties,” Schlosser added. “Peachtree is proud to play a role in shaping the future of Atlanta through transformative projects that enhance the city's competitiveness, strengthen downtown and support long-term economic growth.”
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Peachtree Group announced the origination of $56.4 million in C-PACE financing for the recapitalization and redevelopment of The CTR (“Center”), the former CNN Center (pictured).
