Qatar expects the United States and Iran to reach an agreement within the next few hours, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said at a news conference on August 6. He also confirmed that there are no direct talks between the United States and Iran, despite the expectation of a possible deal.

Al-Ansari said Qatar supports mediation efforts, particularly those led by Oman, and continues to call for de-escalation and dialogue. According to him, mediators are speaking with one another while draft agreements are being exchanged between the two sides. Qatar believes the matter should be resolved at the regional level.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Al-Ansari said Qatar’s position is that the waterway should be reopened and operated as it has traditionally been, with freedom of navigation. The strait normally carries 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies, but only a few vessels are currently able to pass each day. Iranians have said ships must pay a fee to transit the strait, a demand the United States has said it will not accept.