Qatar has taken on a mediation role in the United States-Iran conflict, with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visiting Tehran on Thursday. Four days after Washington announced “Operation Economic Outcast,” Al Thani met Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, described as Iran’s top negotiator and a spokesman for the ruling Islamic Republic government, and urged Tehran to return to diplomatic talks.

Ghalibaf said Tehran could resume diplomacy if the United States decided to completely halt attacks on Iran launched using the territory of Iran’s neighbouring countries in the Middle East. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, executive chief of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also attended the meeting between Al Thani and Ghalibaf.

Rezaei said Iran would soon reach a final decision on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, adding that if Washington genuinely seeks talks, they must begin before Iran takes action on Hormuz. In a post on X after his Tehran visit, Al Thani said he stressed free movement for ships through the strait. He also discussed a temporary joint Iranian-Omani shipping corridor and a joint mine-clearance project with Iran’s foreign minister.