Iran, Qatar Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz as Hope for US Dialogue Resumes

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held talks in Tehran focusing on key issues, including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, as the international community hopes for a resumption of dialogue between the US and Iran to end the war.

On August 27, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Qatari premier, who also serves as foreign minister, discussed a proposed framework that includes establishing a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of a “joint project” to clear naval mines there. Iran says these mines were laid during the war.

The statement also said the two officials reviewed “the latest developments in the regional situation… and efforts to de-escalate and create appropriate conditions for dialogue, contributing to enhancing regional security and stability.”

Sheikh Mohammed, who also holds the posts of prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, later held separate meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Ghalibaf stressed the need to de-escalate regional tensions. The two sides also exchanged views on current developments and efforts to facilitate the resumption of dialogue.

On social media platform X, Sheikh Mohammed wrote: “Qatar believes that dialogue and diplomatic solutions remain the optimal path to resolve differences and overcome crises.” He emphasized that the discussions in Tehran were “an affirmation of ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions… while opening the door to peaceful solutions – including stressing the importance of respecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz under international law.”

Sheikh Mohammed’s visit follows a week of intense diplomacy in Iran, with separate meetings with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and senior Pakistani officials, aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against Iran and reopening the strategic waterway, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes in peacetime.

Alongside Pakistan’s mediation role, Qatar played a key part in securing the April ceasefire and the June memorandum between Iran and the US, but those agreements later collapsed.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Doha, said the meeting between Qatari and Iranian officials showed that “there is still hope of reaching a deal… because it seems there is now a recognition that there is still room for negotiation, reconciliation, and returning to the dialogue table.”

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, in Tehran, noted that “while there is certainly diplomatic momentum in Tehran,” caution is needed because “no agreement has been reached,” as Iranian officials have so far only met with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.

US President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera on August 26 that he is “in no hurry” to resume talks with Iran to end the war in the Middle East.

Since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, Iran has maintained tight control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington imposed a retaliatory naval blockade on Iran’s ports.

Iran has for weeks been negotiating with Oman to reach a proposed framework and agreement. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on August 26 that the two countries had agreed on the division of water and revenue from managing the waterway.

However, Tehran insists it will not reopen the strait unless Washington meets its demands, including lifting the naval blockade, releasing Iranian assets abroad, and removing oil sanctions. Since the war began, Iranian forces have required ships to seek permission to pass through the waterway and have attacked vessels that did not comply. Tehran has also sought to impose service fees on ships using the strait, a move that has drawn strong opposition from Washington and regional countries.