Qatar: The world cannot afford the cost of closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday that Doha is pushing for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the world cannot bear the cost of closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Ibrahim bin Sultan Al-Hashemi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during the ministry’s weekly press briefing that “Qatar supports reaching an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz,” emphasizing that the priority at this stage is for all parties to reach a consensus on resolving this crisis.

Al-Hashemi stressed that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is vital for all countries, affirming that Qatar is tirelessly working with its regional and international partners to achieve consensus on the matter and to advance dialogue toward a comprehensive solution to this dilemma.

The Director of the Media and Communications Department reiterated that “the closure of maritime and waterways should not be taken for granted,” adding that it is “unacceptable, both for Qatar and for the international community,” and called on the entire world to “unite against any measures that would disrupt freedom of navigation.”

Al-Hashemi continued, “The world has suffered enough from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and therefore cannot also bear the cost of closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” warning that disrupting navigation in both straits would have catastrophic consequences for the world.

He affirmed that Qatar is advancing dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a peaceful resolution to such conflicts through discussion, noting that “this is not a difficult or impossible task, and the only viable solution in the end will be through negotiations, which Qatar is currently pursuing tirelessly.”

He added that “efforts are ongoing and will not cease, as this crisis affects the entire world, and therefore there can be no pause, even for a moment, in seeking a possible solution.”

He noted that a Qatari delegation would participate in the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, and that discussing this crisis would be at the top of the Qatari delegation’s agenda during the meetings.