TEHRAN: Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Tehran on Thursday for an official visit as Doha and Iran discussed efforts to clear naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz and establish a temporary maritime corridor to facilitate safer shipping.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss regional developments, de-escalation efforts and prospects for restoring maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
According to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed a joint plan to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. They also explored arrangements for establishing a temporary shipping corridor to ensure safer maritime navigation.
The talks come as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted. The waterway is a major global energy route, carrying about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
The proposed temporary corridor would provide ships with a limited, safer route while efforts continue toward restoring normal maritime traffic and reducing risks to vessels.
Qatar’s mediation efforts also extend beyond maritime security. The visit was part of broader diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region and create conditions for renewed negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Iran and Oman have also recently discussed plans to clear mines and establish a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the US Navy has located and cleared or neutralized all mines in international waters of the Strait.
More read, Qatar PM to visit Tehran to relaunch U.S.-Iran diplomacy
However, separate discussions between Iran, Qatar and Oman indicate that maritime security and the resumption of commercial shipping remain key diplomatic concerns.
