Qatar is stepping up diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict between the United States and Iran, with indirect negotiations yet to produce a breakthrough as the war enters its eighth month.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that Doha was exchanging messages between the two sides and working to establish common ground for a possible agreement.
“We are exchanging messages between the parties,” al-Ansari told reporters, adding that Qatar was seeking an agreement that could prevent further consequences from the conflict.
US and Iran remain divided
The United States and Iran have so far failed to reach an agreement that would end the fighting or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which a significant share of global energy supplies normally passes.
Diplomatic activity intensified around last week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. US and Iranian officials separately communicated with Qatari mediators on Monday, although it remained unclear whether another exchange took place on Tuesday.
Qatar previously played a supporting role in negotiations that produced a June memorandum of understanding and a brief ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump has maintained that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and has said the conflict could end soon.
Trump also rejected reports from Axios and CNN that he was prepared to ease sanctions and release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for concrete steps by Tehran on its nuclear programme.
“This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
US, Iran resume indirect diplomacy as Trump signals further talks
Iran says diplomacy is the way forward
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues but would not accept what he described as bullying or coercion.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and maintains that it has the right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme.
At last week’s UN General Assembly, Tehran presented a peace proposal that would begin a seven-day countdown toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz while also calling for a pause in fighting.
Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later said that Washington had not formally communicated a rejection through mediators.
Iran has said its proposal could lead to the reopening of the strait within seven days if the required conditions are met.
Conflict continues to disrupt energy markets
The conflict has killed thousands of people and disrupted global energy supplies, contributing to higher oil prices and inflation concerns.
Iran has used missiles and drones against US allies in the Gulf while restricting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, regional oil exports have shown signs of recovery.
Oil prices fell 2.5% on Tuesday as investors focused on recovering Middle Eastern crude exports, although prices remained on track for monthly gains because of continuing supply concerns.
The United States has also taken additional economic measures against Tehran. Washington recently sanctioned individuals and entities accused of helping Iran procure weapons and related components, including parties based in China, Hong Kong, Russia and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the US has offered energy companies access to up to 40 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a wider effort to stabilise energy supplies following the conflict.
With Washington and Tehran still divided over the terms of a settlement, Qatar’s mediation remains focused on finding a framework that could halt the fighting and restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
