Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Tehran on Thursday in an effort to revive stalled diplomacy between Iran and the United States, six months into the war.
The visit came as US President Donald Trump said Washington was not currently holding talks with Tehran.
“We don’t want to speak to them. We’re not looking to meet or anything,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US would maintain its economic pressure on Iran until Tehran agreed to engage in meaningful negotiations.
During his visit, Al Thani met Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and called for a return to diplomacy, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, meanwhile, urged neighbouring countries to prevent the United States from using their territory for military or economic operations against Iran.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that Tehran would target US military and economic interests if Washington took hostile action.
Rezaei said the US would have to meet several Iranian demands before Tehran would consider reopening the Strait of Hormuz. These include ending the US blockade of Iranian ports, providing compensation and lifting sanctions.
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The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route between Iran and Oman, carried about a fifth of global energy supplies before the war. Its reopening has become a key issue in efforts to resolve the conflict.
Al Thani said he stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through the waterway. Qatar and Iran also discussed a proposal for a temporary joint Iranian-Omani shipping corridor and a project to clear mines from the strait.
Iran has sought greater control over shipping through the waterway, while Washington has insisted that it remain open to international navigation.
The diplomatic efforts come after major combat operations were paused for several weeks, although little progress has been made towards a broader peace agreement.
Trump has instead focused on economic pressure against Tehran amid political pressure at home over rising energy prices ahead of the November congressional elections.
Leavitt said no negotiations were currently taking place between Washington and Tehran.
“No negotiations are happening right now, and this will continue until the president feels that maybe they come to the table in a meaningful way,” Leavitt said.
Iran has been under various forms of US sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Despite heavy military losses, Tehran retains missile and drone capabilities that could threaten Gulf states hosting US forces and disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Maritime Organization has reported 70 incidents in the strait since February 28, resulting in the deaths of 19 seafarers.
Thousands of people have been killed since the conflict began, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.
