Diplomatic representatives from Qatar traveled to Iran’s capital on Friday as part of a coordinated effort with Washington to facilitate negotiations aimed at ending the current conflict and addressing unresolved disputes, according to a knowledgeable source who spoke with Reuters.
The Gulf nation, which has previously served as an intermediary in the Gaza conflict and other international disputes, had initially kept its distance from mediating in the Iran situation after suffering attacks from Iranian missiles and drones during recent hostilities.
“A Qatari negotiation team is in Tehran on Friday,” the source confirmed, explaining that the delegation had coordinated their visit with Washington and aimed to help “reach a final deal that would end the war and address outstanding issues with Iran.”
Officials at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Although Pakistan has been serving as the primary mediator since hostilities commenced, Qatar’s renewed involvement highlights its established position as a Washington ally in the region and its history as a reliable communication channel between the U.S. and Tehran.
A fragile truce currently exists in the conflict that started with joint U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, though significant progress has been limited due to America’s naval blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran’s effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz creating complications for talks.
A high-ranking Iranian source informed Reuters on Thursday that while no agreement has been finalized, differences have been reduced, with Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and its control over the waterway remaining as key obstacles.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged some advancement on Thursday, stating: “There’s some good signs. I don’t want to be overly optimistic … So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.”
When questioned Friday regarding Qatar’s diplomatic team in Iran, Rubio addressed reporters during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, emphasizing that Pakistan remained the main negotiating partner in the Iran discussions and had performed an “admirable job.”
He continued: “Obviously other countries have interests, because especially Gulf countries that are, you know, in the middle of all this — they have their own situation going. And we talk to all of them. I would just say that the primary country we’ve been working with on all of this, is Pakistan, and that remains the case.”
Qatar’s return to diplomatic involvement occurs despite Iran having launched hundreds of missiles and drones against the nation, striking civilian infrastructure and its crucial liquefied natural gas production facility at Ras Laffan. Those attacks eliminated approximately 17 percent of Qatar’s LNG export capabilities. The country had previously suspended LNG operations on March 2 after Iranian strikes.
Prior to the conflict, roughly 20% of worldwide LNG commerce passed through the Strait of Hormuz, mainly from Qatar — Iran’s effective blockade of the waterway has eliminated nearly all of its LNG export capabilities.
Qatar holds the status of a designated major non-NATO ally of the United States and is home to Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military facility in the Middle East.
