Qatar Confirms Continuation of Mediation Efforts Between US and Iran

Doha, 29 September (KUNA) — The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed on Tuesday that Qatar is continuing its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran to bridge differences and build a common ground between the parties. Dr. Majid Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister’s Council and the official spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized during the ministry’s weekly media briefing Qatar’s commitment from day one to achieving a peaceful resolution and supporting Pakistani mediation. Al-Ansari added that the past days witnessed a number of meetings and exchanges of messages between the parties, including those held in New York during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, noting that work remains ongoing to arrange meetings and convey messages between the sides.

Regarding the escalation in the region, he reiterated that Qatar strongly condemns any targeting of infrastructure in the region by any party, stating that “targeting infrastructure, energy facilities, and ships serves only to undermine the interests of peoples, first and last.” He stressed the necessity of respecting infrastructure and its facilities amid any escalation in the region, warning that any threat against them constitutes a violation of international law principles and the principle of good neighborliness in the region.

Al-Ansari affirmed that “the countries of the region did not choose to be part of this war, and there is no conflict between the region’s countries and Iran,” noting that Iran decided to bomb regional countries as a result of the war that erupted between it and Israel and the United States. He added that GCC and regional countries have long expressed the need for a solution based on dialogue, and that Qatar is seeking coexistence based on peace. Qatar is currently engaged in negotiations despite being subjected to missile attacks from Iran, and has not abandoned its position that the only solution to this crisis lies in dialogue.

He clarified that current efforts focus on bridging this gap and achieving a peaceful resolution that would enable regional countries to return to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as addressing issues related to the security concerns of regional countries.

On the Gaza Strip and the transition to the second phase, Al-Ansari stated that Qatar has been engaged in this file since day one, pointing to a meeting of eight Arab and Islamic countries held in New York, as well as more than 12 meetings at the ministerial level and various other levels to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories more broadly. He specifically warned about developments in the West Bank, noting that there is an attempt to impose a new reality in the West Bank that contradicts the international consensus stemming from the Oslo Agreement, an issue that must not be ignored. In this context, he commended the decisions of countries that imposed sanctions and took measures against settlement activities in the West Bank, emphasizing the need to double efforts to stop Israeli occupation violations, particularly those related to altering the status quo in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

He affirmed Qatar’s continued efforts with its regional brothers and international partners to ensure progress toward a political solution and to support the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip.

Regarding the economic repercussions of developments in the region, he noted that “the countries of the region supply various countries around the world not only with energy derivatives but also with other products, particularly those related to food security, petrochemical industries, aluminum, and others.” He pointed out that the region plays a significant role in investment and purchasing activities, which collectively have a serious impact on the global economy. (End) S.S.S / Sh.M.A