Qatar has warned against treating the near-shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz as a normal condition, saying continued disruption of the vital waterway risks deepening regional tensions and worsening the economic consequences of the war between Iran and the United States.
Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said at a press conference that Doha was working with Oman and Pakistan to support efforts to de-escalate tensions and encourage the parties to return to negotiations.
“We said from the start, any attempt to normalise the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in this way will end with regional escalation, and this is what we saw yesterday and today. Escalation does not benefit anyone, and we are all negatively impacted by the escalation. We encourage all sides to be wise and return to negotiations.”
Majed Al-Ansari
The Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of confrontation since Israel and the United States launched military operations against Iran on February 28. Before the conflict, roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne trade passed through the strategic waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean.
Shipping through the strait has since fallen sharply, with commercial traffic reduced to a fraction of its normal level. The United States has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has been accused of laying naval mines and attacking tankers operating in the waterway.
The disruption has had immediate consequences for global energy markets. Oil and gas prices have risen sharply amid concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important routes for energy exports, putting additional pressure on economies and consumers far beyond the Middle East.
Qatar, itself a major energy producer, has also been affected by the disruption. The country has therefore increasingly focused on diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and restoring freedom of navigation through the strait.
Al-Ansari said Qatar was coordinating with Oman and Pakistan as part of broader regional mediation efforts. Both countries have maintained communication channels with Iran and have previously played roles in diplomatic initiatives involving Tehran and other regional powers.
Qatar Pushes for Renewed Negotiations
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani travelled to Tehran last week as part of Doha’s efforts to encourage dialogue and prevent further escalation.
Al-Ansari said that the visit was intended to support mediation efforts and help create conditions for a return to negotiations. “The [regional] visits [to Tehran]… are all to support mediation efforts, and attempting to return to the negotiation path, and guaranteeing no return to escalation in the region,” he said.
He added that the Qatari Prime Minister had reiterated Doha’s stance for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. “During his visit [the Qatari Prime Minister] confirmed Qatar’s consistent position in support of diplomatic efforts to find a solution to this crisis… efforts are ongoing,” Al-Ansari said.
The diplomatic push comes after Iran and Oman discussed the possibility of establishing a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz to allow shipping to resume. However, Tehran has indicated that it wants the United States to first return to commitments contained in a memorandum of understanding reached in June.
That memorandum was intended to establish a ceasefire and create a framework for negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The arrangement subsequently broke down, and renewed military exchanges have complicated efforts to restore it.
Qatar’s latest intervention reflects concerns that continued confrontation could have consequences extending well beyond the immediate conflict. A prolonged disruption of shipping through Hormuz could affect energy supplies, freight costs, insurance premiums and international supply chains.
Qatar Accuses Israel of Wider Regional Escalation
Al-Ansari also linked the conflict with Iran to developments elsewhere in the Middle East, accusing Israel of using the confrontation to reshape the regional security environment. While the United States and Iran remain focused on the confrontation surrounding the strait, Israel has continued military operations in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon.
The occupied West Bank has also experienced increased violence, including attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities, according to Palestinian officials and international observers. Al-Ansari accused Israel of using the war with Iran “to impose a new reality in Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian territories” and said Israel was contributing to a new phase of regional escalation.
His remarks reflect Qatar’s broader position that the conflict involving Iran cannot be separated from wider instability across the Middle East. For now, Doha is urging all sides to avoid further military escalation and return to negotiations.
The challenge remains whether diplomatic initiatives involving Qatar, Oman and Pakistan can persuade Washington and Tehran to revive the commitments that previously helped reduce tensions.
