Iran FM to visit Qatar for talks before UN assembly: state media

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with Qatari officials before attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to state media reports on Sunday. The minister departed Tehran on Sunday evening, heading towards New York, and will make a stop in Doha for consultations on recent regional developments, as reported by IRNA, the state news agency.

This stop in Doha comes in the wake of Iran asserting its conditions once again for lifting the blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This issue has been a focal point of the Middle East conflict that erupted in late February, when Iran imposed a blockade in response to the US-Israeli strikes. Now, Iran demands vessels seek its authorization to navigate the strait, citing security and sovereignty concerns, and is contemplating imposing service fees.

The United States has reciprocated by imposing its own blockade of Iranian ports as the standoff persists. The US-Iran conflict continues to remain unresolved.