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Qatar’s prime minister will visit Tehran on Thursday in an effort to relaunch diplomacy after the United States and Iran traded recriminations over Washington’s promise to increase economic pressure on Tehran by targeting its trade partners for sanctions.
Qatar, a Gulf neighbour of Iran and a US ally, has served as a back-channel negotiator for the warring parties and played a direct role in securing the June ceasefire that briefly led to a cessation of hostilities.
The visit comes as the war nears its sixth month with fighting largely paused but no diplomatic breakthrough in sight. The two sides remain at odds over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil supplies that Tehran has used as leverage.
It also comes after similar visits by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi.
