Qatar's foreign ministry on Tuesday said that Doha is not acting as a direct mediator between the United States and Iran, but that it supports both formal and informal diplomatic avenues aimed at ending the war.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the U.S. had engaged in talks with Iran and that the parties had "major points of agreement." Iran, however, has said no negotiations took place.
At a media briefing in Doha, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari described sustained contact with Washington and framed Qatar's role as supportive of de-escalation efforts. "We are in close contact with U.S. administration over this, they took the decision to go to war according to parameters that they think are related to regional security," he said. "This is their assessment, we are working very closely with them on how to de-escalate, on how to find a way out of this crisis and stop attacks on our countries."
Al Ansari also warned about the consequences of continued escalation. "We have said since 2023 - escalation left unchecked in the region will lead not only to regional spillover but a total regional war that will engulf all of us and that is exactly what we are in right now," he said.
The foreign ministry spokesperson noted that other countries - Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey - have been actively engaged in mediation efforts to seek de-escalation in what the statement described as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The briefing linked the broader conflict to disruptions in global energy supplies.
Qatar's comments underscore its stated preference for diplomatic channels while clarifying its position regarding direct mediation between Washington and Tehran. The government presented its role as one of close coordination with the U.S. administration and as supportive of measures to halt attacks and reduce tensions that the ministry says have already affected energy availability worldwide.
While the public accounts from Washington and Tehran differ on whether talks occurred, Qatar's foreign ministry emphasized continued dialogue and efforts to prevent further escalation, stressing the potential for wider regional consequences.