Qatar says US, Iran still in talks to end war

Qatar's foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday that the United States and Iran are still engaged in indirect talks aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, despite the deadlock that has persisted for seven months. The mediator emphasized the need for a negotiated solution to address the concerns of various parties involved in the conflict, which threatens the global community.

The discussions between the two nations are facilitated by Qatar and its regional partners, according to foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashmi. The official stressed the urgency of resolving the situation, stating that the scale of the conflict and its devastating impact necessitate immediate efforts to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

In a related development, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Iran's interior minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha on Tuesday, as reported by the royal palace. This meeting took place amidst a series of diplomatic efforts, including a ceasefire in April, a memorandum of understanding in June, and talks at the UN General Assembly last month. However, despite these initiatives, the US and Iran continue to disagree over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global shipping.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed the latest talks with the US as futile, claiming that they only led to further attacks, according to state media.