Qatar says Washington and Tehran continue exchanging messages through mediators despite a prolonged deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz.
WEB DESK: Qatar said on Tuesday that the United States and Iran remain engaged in indirect talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, despite an apparent deadlock after months of conflict.
Qatari Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashmi said messages were still being exchanged between the two sides through Qatar and other regional partners.
“I can confirm that the talks are continuing,” Al-Hashmi said during a regular press briefing, adding that the negotiations take into account the concerns of the parties involved.
He said the scale of the conflict and its wider costs made it necessary to pursue a negotiated solution.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Dispute
Despite previous diplomatic efforts, Washington and Tehran remain divided over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil and gas shipments.
The latest talks follow a ceasefire in April, a memorandum of understanding reached in June and diplomatic discussions held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last month. However, those efforts have not produced a lasting settlement.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained one of the central issues in the wider confrontation. Recent Iranian statements have indicated that the waterway’s reopening is linked to conditions agreed during earlier negotiations.
Iran Questions Value of Talks
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that talks with the United States were “meaningless” and had only resulted in renewed attacks, according to Iranian state media.
The comments highlight the significant gap between the two sides despite Qatar’s confirmation that diplomatic communication remains active.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on Sunday that there was no military solution to the conflict and argued that negotiations based on what Tehran described as justice and fairness were necessary to end the war.
Qatar Continues Mediation
Qatar has remained an important intermediary between Washington and Tehran, relaying messages between the two sides as efforts continue to prevent further escalation.
The latest Qatari statement suggests that diplomatic channels remain open even though a breakthrough has yet to emerge.
