Qatar has warned that the economic and political consequences of the Iran war are not limited to the region, calling for the conflict to be ended as soon as possible through negotiations. The Doha administration emphasized that the "whole world is paying the price" for the war.
Ibrahim bin Sultan İbrahim Al-Hashmi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference in Doha, "I can confirm that negotiations are ongoing." Al-Hashmi stated that contacts and visits are continuing to make progress in the talks between Washington and Tehran.
Al-Hashmi also expressed that Qatar is open to a visit by the Iranian side to convey the latest developments. The Doha administration reports that it is part of efforts to reach an agreement between the US and Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari also said last week that the pressure on the global economy had become "unbearable," warning that disruptions were affecting supplies such as fertilizer raw materials, helium, and aluminum, in addition to oil and gas.
The war, which began at the end of February with joint US-Israel attacks on Iran, has severely disrupted maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical for Gulf exports, after Iran and the US implemented naval blockades.
SUPPORT FOR MECCA ALLIANCE, CAUTIOUS MESSAGE ON PARTICIPATION
Al-Hashmi also said they support the Mecca defense alliance established between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. However, he stated that it is "too early" to discuss Qatar's participation in this military pact.
The statement came after the three countries decided at an emergency meeting in Riyadh to implement their joint defense commitments and rapidly deploy agreed-upon forces and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia. It was reported that the alliance was established with an agreement signed on August 7.
Qatar also announced that it condemns the attacks by the Yemeni Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia, Islamic holy sites, and civilian facilities. Al-Hashmi said that Doha supports "Saudi Arabia's measures to protect its sovereignty and security." The Houthis, however, deny the Saudi claims that they have carried out attacks on holy sites in Mecca and Medina.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha on the same day. According to the Qatar News Agency, the meeting addressed regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that during Momeni's contacts, the situation of three Iranian military pilots, who are alleged to have been held by Doha since the beginning of the war, was also brought up. Qatar denies the claim that it is holding the pilots and states that search teams have reached the lifeless body of one of the pilots.
News Source: 12punto
