WANA (Aug 27) – Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Tehran on Thursday, making him the third senior foreign official to visit Iran this week as regional efforts to ease tensions and facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington continue.

 

The Iranian Foreign Ministry had previously said the visit was part of ongoing consultations between Tehran and Doha aimed at expanding bilateral relations and strengthening regional peace and security. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei also pointed to Qatar’s recent efforts to help prevent further escalation in the region, saying the talks would focus on Qatar’s mediation initiatives and other regional developments.

 

Sheikh Mohammed arrived in Tehran on Thursday afternoon and was received by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Foreign Ministry.

 

His visit follows trips to Tehran earlier this week by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir on Monday and Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Tuesday. Both held talks with Iranian officials on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

Ghalibaf's meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir

Pakistan has played the main mediating role in the latest round of indirect Iran-US contacts, which began after the April 8 ceasefire and following the 40-day war. Qatar later joined those efforts. During his latest visit to Tehran, Munir met with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei.

 

Oman, which has served as a mediator in indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington both before and after the 12-day war, also sent its foreign minister to Tehran on Tuesday. Albusaidi held talks with Araghchi on bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

 

One of the key issues discussed by Tehran and Muscat was the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint statement, the two foreign ministers said they had discussed a phased framework that includes establishing a temporary joint maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and launching a joint project to clear mines from the waterway.

They also agreed to continue technical negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent maritime corridor and developing future mechanisms for managing the Strait, exchanging information, controlling maritime traffic and providing navigational and security services.

 

Qatar, meanwhile, has taken on a more prominent role in recent regional diplomatic efforts. Araghchi previously said Doha had joined Pakistan in mediating between Iran and the United States, describing Qatar’s role as “very positive” and saying that relations between Tehran and Doha were now at a good stage.

 

Iran, however, continues to regard Pakistan as the main mediator on issues involving Iran and the United States. On August 17, Baghaei told reporters that “Pakistan is the mediator on issues related to Iran and the United States, while Qatar is also making efforts.” He added that contacts with European countries and their willingness to offer their good offices did not mean that a new mediator had emerged in Iran-US relations.

 

Against this backdrop, Araghchi and Sheikh Mohammed also held a phone call on Tuesday, discussing the latest regional developments and stressing the importance of using diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation.

 

Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to Tehran, coming shortly after the visits by senior officials from Pakistan and Oman, once again highlights the growing role of regional diplomacy in efforts to manage tensions between Iran and the United States.