Qatar’s PM urges Iran to avoid using Hormuz as bargaining chip, calls for de-escalation

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on Iran to support efforts to de-escalate regional tensions during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday. Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Doha’s “full” support for ongoing efforts to secure a comprehensive agreement to resolve the US-Iran conflict, according to a Qatari Foreign Ministry statement on X. He emphasized that all parties should engage constructively with mediation efforts—led by Pakistan—to achieve lasting peace and regional stability.

Freedom of navigation

“Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle that is not open to compromise,” the Qatari minister said, stressing that closing the Strait of Hormuz or “using it as a bargaining chip will only deepen the crisis and jeopardize the vital interests of the countries of the region.” He also urged all parties to respect international law and principles of good neighborly relations, and to prioritize the well-being of the region’s people. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February, prompting Iranian retaliation and the closure of the strait—a vital energy chokepoint.

Ceasefire and mediation context

A Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took effect on April 8, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. President Trump later extended the truce indefinitely while maintaining a naval blockade. Qatar’s call comes as Pakistan’s army chief visits Tehran to push for a permanent deal.