Iran war live: Qatar PM to visit Tehran; Trump ‘not in a hurry’ over talks

On Thursday, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will embark on a visit to Tehran with the aim of rejuvenating diplomatic efforts. This comes after a tense exchange between the United States and Iran over the latter's pledge to intensify economic sanctions on the former by targeting its trade partners with sanctions.

Qatar, a Gulf neighbour of Iran and an ally of the United States, has historically functioned as a back-channel negotiator for conflicting parties and played a direct role in brokering the June ceasefire. The visit transpires as the conflict edges closer to its sixth month, with hostilities largely suspended but no diplomatic resolution in sight.

The standoff primarily revolves around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for global oil supplies, which Tehran has used as a lever of influence. The memorandum of understanding that was signed between Iran and Qatar has faltered due to disagreements on the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, where one-fifth of the world's oil passes, prior to the war, which commenced on February 28.

Since the onset of hostilities, Iran's oil flows through the strait have plummeted to a three-month low of 5 million barrels per day, as opposed to the pre-war average of 20 million barrels per day. Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated on Wednesday that an agreement on sharing the waterway and its revenues with Oman has been reached, yet a senior Iranian source later clarified that the parties are still working on the particulars of the agreement.

Despite Iran's missile and drone arsenal, which was significantly weakened in the initial aerial bombardment of the war, Tehran still possesses the capability to target Gulf allies housing US military bases and disrupt oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN's International Maritime Organization has reported 70 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, resulting in 19 maritime casualties, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Iran and Lebanon, following the US and Israel's military interventions aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, aiding Iranians in overthrowing their regime, and dismantling Iran's missile program.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will deliberate on the continuation of Qatar's mediation efforts and other regional developments during his Cairo trip. He will also address the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of conditions prior to February 28, as well as collaborate with Iranian officials to de-escalate tensions and foster an environment conducive to dialogue.

The Strait of Hormuz, which was previously devoid of obstacles, has since been controlled by Iran, serving as a revenue source and a source of revenue, while the United States has adamantly opposed the imposition of tolls. An agreement with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz has not been ratified, with a senior Iranian source stating that negotiations are ongoing regarding the specifics of an accord.

This assertion appears to contradict a statement made by Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who claimed that Iran and Oman have reached mutually acceptable outcomes concerning the management of the strait and its revenues. He further stated that the strait would remain closed unless the US fulfills Tehran's demands under the interim ceasefire, also known as the memorandum of understanding, signed in June, which Qatar brokered, before it was terminated.

Those conditions encompass an end to the US blockade on Iranian ports, compensation, and the removal of sanctions. Iran and Oman have engaged in intermittent discussions for weeks regarding the control of the strait and its revenues. Tehran and Washington have both endeavored to assert dominance over the channel, imposing separate blockades.