Iran, Qatar Meet in Tehran as US Blockade Continues to Squeeze Oil Imports
A meeting between Iranian and Qatari officials has been held in Tehran to discuss the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as a US naval blockade continues to squeeze oil imports into Iran.
The visit by Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani follows intense diplomacy in Iran involving separate meetings with Oman's top diplomat and senior Pakistani officials seeking ways to end the West Asia war and reopen Hormuz.
Iran has maintained tight control over Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit, since the US imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports after the war broke out on February 28.
Ambassador Al Thani 'emphasised the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of neighbouring states and freedom of navigation', and pursuing dialogue, according to Qatar's Foreign Ministry.