PNN – A Qatari delegation has traveled to Iran following recent events, aiming to reinforce Qatar’s role as a mediator.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; a Qatari political delegation has arrived in Iran to hold consultations with officials of the Islamic Republic. Given that Seyed Abbas Araghchi is currently in Mashhad, it appears that the Qatari delegation—led by an advisor to the country’s foreign minister—has traveled to that city.
It is said that the primary objective of this visit is to shore up Qatar’s mediating role following the events of Tuesday and Thursday—during which the US terrorist military launched extensive strikes against a range of Iranian military and civilian targets on Wednesday and Thursday, in the wake of Qatar accusing Iran regarding an alleged incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Need to Hold Qatar Accountable for Its Role in Escalating Tensions
US strikes against Iran began early Wednesday morning, just hours after the Qatari Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement accusing Iran of attacking a Qatari vessel. In response to this allegation, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the claim, describing it as “questionable, contrary to the principle of good neighborliness, and unacceptable.”
Referring to Clause 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding on ending the war—which designates the Islamic Republic of Iran as responsible for the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz and the provision of maritime services—the Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran takes its obligations seriously and expects regional countries—particularly Qatar, which is privy to the details of the memorandum in its capacity as mediator—as well as shipping companies, to refrain from any actions inconsistent with the provisions of said memorandum.
In addition to these points, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson—referring to the practice of certain commercial vessels navigating routes not coordinated with Iran while switching off or tampering with their tracking systems or GPS (AIS) to evade surveillance and safety monitoring—noted that such behavior creates risks of collision and environmental hazards, compromises the safety of the route, and disrupts the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
If we take the Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s stance as the basis for Iran’s view of Qatar’s actions over the past week, the Qatari side should—in the course of this visit—explain why, despite being fully aware of the provisions of Clause 5 of the Islamabad Understanding, it sought to collude with the U.S. to bypass the path favored by Iran, and why it hastily accused Iran before making any contact with the country.