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
Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, three officials briefed on the message told Reuters.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the renewed U.S. campaign against Iran would not continue for "too long" after the biggest exchange of fire between Tehran and Washington since July.
Top aides to President Donald Trump are pushing to keep the Iran war from escalating before November's midterm elections to staunch Republican electoral losses, four people familiar with the discussions said, a strategy already under strain as the U.S. and Iran exchanged back-and-forth attacks overnight.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.