Qatar said it remains actively engaged in mediating between the United States and Iran, despite Iranian attacks on Qatar and other regional states, as Doha seeks to prevent further escalation and restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said Qatar continues to meet with both sides, exchange messages and discuss proposals aimed at finding common ground for a potential agreement.
“We are exchanging messages between the parties and we are working towards establishing common ground in order to get into a deal that would save all of us from the repercussions of the conflict,” Al Ansari said.
He said the diplomatic effort remains ongoing and that Qatar intends to continue its mediation for as long as possible.
Al Ansari said Qatar, other Gulf Cooperation Council states, Iraq and Jordan did not choose to become parties to the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
He rejected the idea that Iran’s attacks on neighbouring countries constituted a separate conflict requiring a separate settlement, arguing that the regional states had been drawn into the wider confrontation.Al Ansari said Iran should make a clear decision to keep neighbouring countries out of the conflict and adopt a policy of non-aggression towards them.
At the same time, he said Gulf states had consistently supported dialogue with Tehran and efforts toward peaceful coexistence, despite the missile attacks in the region.
“Our focus right now is on bridging the gap and finding a resolution that would allow us to go back to full freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Al Ansari also warned that a prolonged conflict in the Gulf could have consequences well beyond the region.
Asked how long Qatar and other Gulf economies could withstand the economic impact of the conflict, he said the more important question is how long the global economy could absorb the disruption.
He highlighted the Gulf’s importance to global supplies of energy and industrial and agricultural inputs, including urea, ammonia, helium, petrochemicals and aluminium.
He also declined to speculate on whether the United States could launch another strike against Iran, but said Qatar remained concerned about renewed escalation.
Qatar’s mediation efforts therefore remain focused on maintaining communication between Washington and Tehran and finding common ground for an agreement that could bring the conflict to an end.
“Not reaching a peaceful resolution would result in hardship for all of us in the region,” Al Ansari said. “And we are working actively towards making sure that doesn’t happen.
