Qatar’s prime minister to visit Tehran, seeking to revive US-Iran talks | US-Israel war on Iran News
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is scheduled to visit Tehran on Thursday for negotiations aimed at easing tensions and facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the visit in a statement on X Wednesday. Majed al-Ansari revealed that Sheikh Mohammed, who holds the position of Qatar’s foreign minister, will engage with several Iranian officials to explore strategies for de-escalation and to create favorable conditions for ongoing discussions.
“The visit aligns with Qatar’s steadfast belief that diplomacy is the most effective means to resolve differences and enhance security and stability within the region,” al-Ansari stated.
Iran has also acknowledged the visit, indicating that discussions will encompass Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts and regional developments.
Qatar has played a significant role as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, helping to broker a memorandum of understanding in June that temporarily halted hostilities. However, that agreement unraveled in July, with the conflict now extending into its sixth month, marked by sporadic hostilities and a lack of diplomatic progress.
In a related development, the U.S. government has pledged to intensify economic pressure on Tehran by imposing sanctions on its trade partners. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated he is “in no hurry” to resume talks with Iran, believing that both economic and military pressures are effective strategies. “I have no time schedule; whatever it takes,” he remarked.
Iranian officials have vehemently condemned this economic pressure. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a letter to the United Nations, denounced the recent sanctions as an “act of state and economic terrorism,” urging member states to refrain from implementing them. He argued that these sanctions harm civilians by limiting access to essential goods and violating fundamental rights, including the right to life, health, food, and an adequate standard of living.
The situation also remains tense around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that previously facilitated one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the escalation of the U.S.-Israel confrontation with Iran in February. Iran seeks control over the strait, while the U.S. insists it must remain an international waterway accessible to all. This fundamental disagreement contributed to the collapse of the June memorandum.
Oil shipments through the strait have decreased significantly, falling to a three-month low of approximately 5 million barrels per day on Monday, compared to roughly 20 million barrels per day before the onset of conflict.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that during his meetings in Tehran, Sheikh Mohammed will address the waterway, emphasizing the importance of restoring its status to what it was prior to February 28.
The Prime Minister’s visit follows a meeting by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi with his Iranian counterpart, Araghchi, earlier this week. In the aftermath, Iran’s deputy foreign minister announced an agreement on a new temporary shipping route in the strait, although he emphasized that the waterway will not reopen until the U.S. meets its obligations from the June agreement, including the lifting of sanctions and release of frozen assets.
Additionally, Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, visited Tehran earlier this week in an effort to resolve the ongoing stalemate, with Islamabad reporting “significant progress” in those discussions.
Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Tehran, commented on the urgency for dialogue among regional nations, noting that they perceive an escalation of tensions that could lead to widespread conflict, affecting both the region and the global economy. “Hectic diplomatic moves are underway as countries strive to prevent a potential war,” he said.
