Qatar Says Diplomatic Contacts Continue to Revive US-Iran Talks

DOHA: Qatar says diplomatic contacts aimed at restarting negotiations between the United States and Iran have continued for nearly two weeks, with mediators discussing different proposals to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said Qatar’s mediation team remained in contact with both Tehran and Washington while assessing possibilities for the resumption of talks.

He said Qatari mediators had been travelling between different capitals in an effort to facilitate progress on the issue. Qatar confirmed that its mediation team had been discussing proposals for nearly two weeks as part of efforts to revive US-Iran negotiations.

Al-Ansari said Qatar had also received assurances from officials in the US administration that Washington wanted to reach an agreement.

The Qatari spokesman stressed that regional stability required a regional solution as well as an international understanding capable of ensuring the security of key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He warned that allowing any single state to establish control over a major waterway and use it as a weapon could create a dangerous precedent for the wider region and international trade.

The diplomatic efforts come amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran and concerns over the security of major maritime routes in the Gulf.

Qatar has continued to position itself as a mediator between the United States and Iran, while Pakistan has also been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and facilitating dialogue between the two sides.

The ongoing contacts indicate that, despite the military and political confrontation, regional mediators are continuing efforts to create conditions for renewed negotiations.