Qatar's PM heads to Tehran to revive Iran-US diplomacy
Qatar's prime minister will visit Tehran on Thursday to revive diplomacy between Iran and the United States amid escalating sanctions and unresolved disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, where oil traffic has sharply declined. The visit follows U.S. threats to sanction Iran's trade partners, with Qatar serving as a back-channel negotiator after the June ceasefire collapsed. Fighting has paused, but no breakthrough exists, and Iran and Oman remain at odds over control and revenues of the waterway. Hormuz oil flows have fallen to 5 million barrels per day from 20 million before the war, with 70 maritime incidents reported. Tehran and Washington both impose blockades, while talks on an agreement with Oman continue despite conflicting statements.