Qatar confirms continuation of efforts to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran

Doha, August 4 (KUNA) -- The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday that Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan are making continuous efforts to facilitate communication between the United States and Iran to bridge differences between the two sides. This was stated during the weekly media briefing by Majed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister’s Council and official spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also noted ongoing coordination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and regional partners to support efforts aimed at reaching a permanent resolution to the crisis. Al-Ansari added that the current priority is to contain escalation and reopen avenues for diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the necessity of returning to the negotiating table as the best means to address existing disputes. Regarding navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz, Al-Ansari stressed that Qatar’s position remains firm in calling for the guarantee of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, and that the strait should not be used as a means of political pressure or to advance unilateral interests. He affirmed that any future arrangements concerning the management or regulation of navigation in the strait must be reached through consensus among all affected regional states, noting that ensuring the smooth flow of trade and freedom of passage represents a shared priority for the international community. (End) S.S. / A.M.S.