Qatari PM Urges Iran, US to commit to diplomacy

DUBAI: Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has called on Iran and the United States to return to the path of diplomacy, following a sharp military escalation between Washington and Tehran that directly impacted Doha over the last two days.

The development came during a high-level telephone conversation on Thursday between the Qatari premier and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, standard maritime security protocols and regional stability dominated the discussion.

Condemnation of maritime attacks

According to a statement issued by the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Mohammed expressed Doha’s outright condemnation and rejection of recent attacks targeting commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

He warned that such hostile acts severely undermine trust, threaten the security of international navigation, and jeopardise ongoing multilateral efforts to lower regional tensions.

The diplomatic intervention followed the targeting of a Qatari oil tanker in the vital shipping lane earlier this week, an incident that has sent shockwaves through global energy markets and heightened security alerts across the Gulf.

Call for adherence to MoU

In a further escalation of the crisis, reports emerged on Thursday that Iran had launched drones towards a site inside Qatar. Addressing the volatile situation, the Qatari Prime Minister stressed the critical need for all parties to exercise maximum restraint and remain firmly committed to dialogue.

Sheikh Mohammed urged both Washington and Tehran to uphold their commitments under the previously signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities.

He reaffirmed Qatar’s unwavering support for all international and regional initiatives designed to contain the fallout, emphasizing that a comprehensive diplomatic agreement remains the only viable path to ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region.