Qatar Presses Iran on Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz gained new momentum on Thursday as Qatar pressed Iran to respect freedom of navigation and Tehran agreed to draft conditions for restoring normal shipping. The visit by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to Tehran came as direct talks between the United States and Iran remained stalled, with Washington focusing instead on economic pressure.

During his meetings with senior Iranian officials, Sheikh Mohammed underscored the importance of adhering to international law regarding navigation in the strait, a critical waterway that handled nearly one-fifth of global oil supply before the war. In response, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Iran was preparing a list of conditions for reopening the strait after mediators requested them. Iran has previously demanded an end to the U.S. blockade of its ports, compensation, and the removal of sanctions.

Rezaei also stated that Iran and Oman had agreed in principle on a shipping corridor through the strait, with a designated central channel to be used if the United States met Iran's conditions. However, a...