US says ‘redirected’ 94 vessels in Strait of Hormuz

Qatarian advisor Majed Al Ansari emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz will continue to be a crucial trade route for the global economy, despite efforts to develop alternative energy and export routes. He stated, "The Strait of Hormuz has been a crossroad for international trade for millennia. No one action or situation will change that."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that oil would soon be transported via land pipelines, diminishing the strait's significance. However, Al Ansari argued that the region could not afford to view the breach of the strait as permanent. He pointed out the importance of petrochemicals, fertilizers, and other commodities produced in the Gulf, stating, "You talk about direct energy like oil but also talk about urea.

We are already seeing decreased crops around the world as a result of the lack of urea." Iran's blockade of the strait led to soaring energy prices and a global economic crisis. Qatar has been actively engaged in mediating negotiations between the US and Iran, which began when Iran retaliated against US and Israeli attacks at the end of February, closing the strait.

Al Ansari acknowledged the difficulty in rebuilding trust with Iran, but emphasized that living next to Iran would be inevitable. He expressed hope that the two nations could eventually find a way to coexist, while stressing that Iran bears most of the responsibility for maintaining good neighbourly relations. Qatar remains in contact with both sides but remains uncertain about when the conflict will end, warning that the ongoing war imposes significant economic and security costs on the region.