Qatar says US officials assured Doha they seek agreement with Iran

Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it has been exchanging ideas aimed at resuming talks between the United States and Iran, according to a statement carried by Al Jazeera. A spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry said officials from the Gulf state are currently shuttling between different capitals in the hope of making progress on this path.

The spokesman said Doha has heard assurances from officials in the US administration that Washington wants to reach an agreement with Iran. He did not provide further details on the content of those assurances or on the stage the contacts have reached.

In his remarks, the spokesman also called for a broader regional approach, saying, "We need a regional solution that achieves stability and an international understanding that protects waterways such as Hormuz." The reference to the Strait of Hormuz points to the strategic waterway through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes, and which has repeatedly been a point of tension between Iran and Western states.

Qatar has in the past hosted indirect contacts and served as a channel between parties in regional disputes, and its latest statement indicates continued diplomatic activity aimed at bridging the gap between Washington and Tehran. No timeline was given for any resumption of talks, and there was no immediate public response from either the US or Iranian governments to the Qatari remarks.

The Qatari comments come amid ongoing regional diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme and maritime security in the Gulf. Officials in the region have repeatedly said that a negotiated outcome is preferable to further escalation, though the format and scope of any new talks remain unclear.

According to Mehr News, citing Al Jazeera, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said it has been exchanging ideas on resuming the US-Iran talks, and its spokesman stated that Qatari officials are shuttling between capitals in the hope of making progress, adding that Doha has heard assurances from US administration officials that Washington wants to reach an agreement.