Qatar’s prime minister traveled to Tehran on Wednesday for talks on the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic efforts to contain the US-Iran conflict gathered pace. Officials reviewed steps to reduce escalation and create what Doha described as “appropriate conditions” for renewed dialogue with Washington.
The visit coincided with a temporary passage route agreed for the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which a large share of global oil shipments moves. Qatar has positioned itself as a mediator between Tehran and Washington since the US-Israeli operation against Iran began earlier this year.
US President Donald Trump addressed the conflict directly in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, part of a wider push to keep communication channels open. International observers have expressed hope that formal talks between the two governments could resume.
The diplomatic movement comes as new reporting exposes the financial toll of the campaign on the US military. Documents obtained by The Guardian, alongside interviews with navy officials and contractors, describe a severe budget crisis, with the US Navy transferring money from its payroll and other accounts to cover combat costs.
The operation has depleted US munitions stockpiles and drawn retaliatory Iranian strikes that damaged strategic bases across the Middle East. Analysts cited in the reporting identified funding a war with no defined endgame as the central problem facing planners.
A proposal to charge vessels a fee or toll for safe passage through the Strait has met resistance. Gulf nations are unlikely to agree to or comply with such a plan, CNBC’s Brian Sullivan reported, citing his conversations with regional figures. The idea has been floated as one mechanism to manage traffic through the contested channel.
The waterway has been a flashpoint throughout the standoff. Earlier this year the US Navy imposed a blockade after peace talks collapsed, a step that disrupted shipping across the region and drew warnings from energy markets. Subsequent mediation attempts, including efforts led by Oman, have produced only partial openings.
Doha said its officials would continue to coordinate with both sides on de-escalation measures. No date has been set for a resumption of direct US-Iran negotiations.