Qatar backs Pakistani mediation for Iran-US deal, rejects use of Hormuz as ‘pressure card’

Qatar on Tuesday expressed support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran and rejected the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a “pressure card” in the ongoing conflict.

Responding to questions about whether Doha could act as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Qatar supports Pakistan’s mediation role.

“We do not see a problem with this mediation and support continuing the negotiations,” he told a press conference in Doha.

“It is unacceptable to prevent ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz or to use it as a pressure card.”

Iran has restricted shipping in the strategic waterway since the outbreak of what Iranian officials describe as a US-Israeli war against Tehran, contributing to increases in global energy and food supply prices.

Iran also carried out drone and missile strikes against Israel and countries hosting US military assets before Iran and the US announced what Pakistani officials described as a two-week ceasefire on April 8 through Pakistani mediation.

Pakistan hosted talks between Iran and the US on April 11, but the negotiations ended without an agreement. US President Donald Trump later said the truce had been extended at Pakistan’s request pending a proposal from Tehran.

Asked whether the conflict involving Iran would affect Qatar’s mediation efforts in Gaza, Ansari said, “Our mediation regarding Gaza has not and will not be affected by media reports or accusations.”

“We continue mediation efforts in coordination with Egypt and Türkiye,” he added. “We do not intend to halt mediation efforts regarding Gaza anytime soon.”

With US support, Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians and injuring over 172,000, most of them women and children, since October 2023 and causing destruction affecting about 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

Despite a ceasefire in place since Oct. 10, 2025, Israel continues its assaults, killing 818 Palestinians and injuring 2,301 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel also continues to block the entry of agreed quantities of food, medicine, medical supplies and shelter materials into Gaza, where about 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.5 million displaced people, live in severe humanitarian conditions.

*Writing by Lina Altawell