'Whole world is paying' for Iran war, Qatar warns as mediation efforts continue

Qatar warned on Tuesday that the “whole world is paying” for the Iran war and called for an immediate end to the conflict through negotiations.

“I can confirm that the negotiations are ongoing,” Ibrahim bin Sultan Ibrahim Al Hashmi, director of the foreign ministry’s Media and Communication Department, told a press briefing in Doha.

“Contacts and visits are ongoing with the aim of making progress in the talks between Washington and Tehran," Al Hashmi said.

“Qatar is open to a visit from the Iranian side to learn about the latest developments regarding the Iranian position,” he added.

Last week, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari described the strain on the global economy as “unbearable”, warning that the disruption extended beyond oil and gas to supplies including fertiliser ingredients, helium and aluminium.

He said Doha was working to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran.

The war, which began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has severely disrupted shipping through the strait -- a crucial route for Gulf exports -- after both Iran and the US imposed their own naval blockades.

Qatar backs Mecca alliance

Al Hashmi also backed the Mecca defence alliance among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, adding that it was "too early to talk about Qatar joining" the military pact.

His comments followed an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, where the three countries agreed to activate their collective defence commitments and rapidly deploy agreed forces and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia.

The alliance was established under an agreement signed on 7 August.

Al Hashmi condemned what he said was Yemen's Houthis’ irresponsible targeting of Saudi Arabia, Islamic holy sites and civilian facilities, and said Doha “supports Saudi measures to preserve sovereignty and security.”

The Houthis have denied Saudi claims of attacks on Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha on Tuesday, with Qatar's news agency saying the meeting focused on regional developments and efforts to ease tensions.

Momeni also met his Qatari counterpart, with Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reporting that the talks focused on the fate of three Iranian military pilots that Tehran claims are held by Doha since the war.

Iran has alleged that three pilots were detained after their military aircraft was downed in Qatari airspace in March. Doha denies holding them and says search teams recovered the remains of one pilot.

Momeni said a technical delegation would hold further meetings on the issue following the talks in Doha, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported on Tuesday.

The talks between the two interior ministers also focused on security matters and the fight against drug trafficking, Tasnim reported.