Using Strait of Hormuz as 'pressure tool' will deepen crisis, Qatari PM tells Iran

The Prime Minister of Qatar informed his Iranian counterpart in a telephone conversation that the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a leverage would further exacerbate the Gulf crisis situation, as per a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

In addition, the PM conveyed to Araqchi that all the concerned parties engaged in the ongoing conflict must take into account any mediation attempts geared towards ending the fighting, according to Anadolu.

In the course of the telephone conversation, both parties deliberated over efforts taken to bring about regional stability, peace, security, and safety, as per the ministry statement posted on X.

Sheikh Mohammed, who serves as the foreign minister as well, emphasized his country's “full support for mediation efforts to resolve the crisis between Iran and the US by peaceful means.”

He underlined the importance of all the parties “responding positively to such initiatives in order to create appropriate conditions for advancing negotiations and reducing the risk of escalation.”

The Qatari premier called for "adhering to international law and the United Nations Charter," while putting the interests of the region and its people first in order to strengthen regional and global security, support de-escalation, and ease tensions, the ministry said.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire took effect April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. The truce was later extended by US President Donald Trump without a set deadline, giving way to diplomacy for a permanent solution to the war.