Qatar has called for more time to allow diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to bear fruit, as the region holds its breath over the fate of negotiations that could determine whether the Middle East slides further into conflict.
Majed al-Ansari © MOFA Qatar
Qatar has called for more time to allow diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to bear fruit, as the region holds its breath over the fate of negotiations that could determine whether the Middle East slides further into conflict.
Speaking at a press conference in Doha, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said his country supports the mediation efforts led by Pakistan to bring the two sides closer together, but warned that reaching a solution "requires more time."
The statement came after President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he had called off a new military strike against Iran at the request of the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, all of whom reportedly told him a deal remains within reach.
Asked directly about Trump's claim, al-Ansari declined to elaborate. "We are not in a position at this stage to give any indication of what might happen in the negotiations," he said, adding, however, that Qatar's priority is clear: "We want to protect the populations of the region, who would be the biggest losers" in any escalation.
By Nabil Al Blooshi
Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Thursday that all Saudi oil and other vital facilities would be targets for the group's missiles and drones if Riyadh escalated its involvement in the conflict.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told parliament Thursday that the "ill-fated" framework agreement signed on June 26 between Lebanon and Israel was "doomed to fail," insisting "the Zionists will not be able to impose its implementation" and that "our people will thwart its effects on the ground."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said some members of the Israeli government had tried to influence U.S. public opinion to oppose a deal by the U.S. to end the war with Iran, in a podcast episode with host Joe Rogan posted on Wednesday.
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