DOHA : Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar would continue consultations with Gulf nations in efforts to restore peace and stability across the region. He reiterated that there remains a strong desire among regional players to address issues with Iran through diplomatic channels rather than military escalation.

H.E. emphasized that backdoor negotiations must continue in order to bring an end to the conflict, which he said has already created “dire circumstances” across the Middle East. He pointed to the growing crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, warning that restrictions on freedom of maritime movement were having severe repercussions on Gulf economies.

“The Strait of Hormuz has been used as a weapon in this war,” Sheikh Mohammed said, highlighting the strategic waterway’s importance to global trade and energy markets.

The remarks come after H.E. Sheikh Mohammed recently held talks in Washington, DC, with senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, to discuss the conflict’s impact on the Gulf and the wider region.

Qatar’s leader also criticized ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, while noting that Türkiye has emerged as a key regional partner in addressing Middle East crises.

According to H.E. Sheikh Mohammed, both Doha and Ankara support Pakistan’s mediation efforts aimed at ending the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, underlining the growing push for dialogue and de-escalation in the region.

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