Qatar has urged Iran to demonstrate its commitment to regional security as renewed diplomatic efforts seek to prevent another escalation in the Middle East war. The appeal came on Tuesday, October 27, as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Moscow. Relations between the two countries have been strained by the conflict despite Doha’s continuing mediation.
The leaders met on the sidelines of a Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit, where Iranian state media said they discussed strengthening political and economic cooperation. The official account made no reference to the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequently spread across the region. Tehran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks included strikes against Qatar. Pezeshkian was also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said in early October that Moscow was ready to join efforts to end the war.
Qatari foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashmi called on Tehran to end threats against neighboring countries and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that the region needed a new security framework to prevent further violence. “The ball is now in Iran’s court to commit to these principles and demonstrate good faith,” he said. Al-Hashmi acknowledged positive statements from Iran but said concrete steps were still needed.
Qatar’s appeal came a day after talks in Tehran involving Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iranian officials described those talks as “very good.” Qatar and Pakistan lead mediation between Washington and Tehran, and a Qatari delegation visited the Iranian capital on Sunday. Al-Hashmi said the mediators continued to exchange ideas, although no breakthrough was announced. The United States, Iran, and Israel have all warned that fighting could resume.
Qatar’s engagement with Iran combines efforts to preserve bilateral relations with demands for concrete security assurances, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are now engaging Tehran directly, and Russia has offered to help end the war. The test is whether these parallel channels can converge on the regional security framework Doha has called for. (AFP+EIR)
