Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said at a press conference in Doha that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened, the ceasefire maintained and diplomatic negotiations resumed to reduce regional tensions.
Al Ansari said Qatar's priority in its mediation efforts was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. He said efforts were continuing to end the crisis and bring the parties back to the negotiating table.
The Strait of Hormuz and US-Iran talks
Al Ansari said they expected Iran and Oman to reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, adding that reopening the strait and extending the ceasefire between the parties could enable US-Iran talks to resume.
Al Ansari said Qatar's mediation efforts were aimed at preventing further escalation and bringing the parties back to the diplomatic process, adding that the current crisis posed a serious threat to everyone. He stressed that Qatar's priority at this stage was to ease tensions and restart negotiations.
Claims concerning Iranian pilots
Al Ansari said Qatar had previously categorically denied claims that Iranian pilots had been detained, adding that Iran had been invited to examine the findings of the investigation into the aircraft shot down over Iran. He said Tehran had not yet responded to the invitation.
Al Ansari said the body of one of the Iranian pilots who violated Qatari airspace on March 19 had been found and that the Iranian side had been informed. He said the body had been handed over, adding that Iran had also not responded to an invitation to send a technical team to examine the search efforts on site.
Al Ansari claimed that the Iranian fighter jets had arrived with the aim of attacking Qatar and that Qatar had acted in accordance with its rules of engagement. He said Qatar was surprised that the issue of the pilots had been raised again six months after the incident. Al Ansari said Qatar would not hesitate to defend its country, people and sovereignty, while stressing that diplomatic efforts were the priority at this stage.
Second phase of the Gaza ceasefire
Al Ansari said Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye were coordinating to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza as soon as possible. He said the mediators were determined to move the process forward.
Al Ansari said international pressure should be brought to bear on Israel to ensure the ceasefire plan was fully implemented, claiming that Israel's rejection of the roadmap for Gaza posed a high risk to the region. He described Hamas's statement that it had agreed to lay down its arms as an important step and said Israel's response was awaited.
Coordination among Gulf countries
Al Ansari said coordination among the Gulf countries on the Strait of Hormuz and regional security was continuing, adding that contacts among the leaders were ongoing to ensure joint action against potential future problems.
Al Ansari listed the simultaneous reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the establishment of a ceasefire among Qatar's priorities. He said diplomacy must be restored, a ceasefire secured, the strait reopened and negotiations restarted to achieve a solution.
