Qatar warns Iran against continuing to close the Strait of Hormuz: it jeopardizes the region’s interests.
Qatar warns Iran against continuing to close the Strait of Hormuz: it jeopardizes the region’s interests.
2026-05-02
Shafaq News – Doha
On Saturday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who stressed that closing the Strait of Hormuz would endanger the vital interests of the region’s countries.
A statement from the Qatari Prime Minister’s office said that Araqchi briefed Al Thani during the call on the course of the ongoing negotiations and their developments, and the diplomatic activity taking place at the present stage.
Al Thani affirmed Qatar’s full support for mediation efforts aimed at ending the crisis peacefully, stressing the need for all parties to respond to these efforts in order to create the appropriate conditions for progress in negotiations and reduce the likelihood of renewed escalation.
He stressed that freedom of navigation is a firmly established principle that is not open to compromise, and that closing the Strait of Hormuz or using it as a pressure tactic will only deepen the crisis and endanger the vital interests of the countries of the region.
The Qatari Prime Minister noted the negative repercussions this would have on global energy and food supplies, and on the stability of markets and supply chains.
He stressed the need to adhere to the provisions of international law and the United Nations Charter, and to prioritize the interests of the region and its people, in order to contribute to strengthening regional and international security and stability, and to support efforts to de-escalate tensions.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US Navy was acting “like pirates” while enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports during the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The United States has seized some Tehran-owned vessels after they left Iranian ports, in addition to sanctioned container ships and Iranian tankers in Asian waters.
Iran has been blocking most ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with the exception of its own vessels, since the beginning of the war, while Trump has imposed a separate blockade on Iranian ports.
shafaq.com
