Iran, Qatar top diplomats hold talks in Tehran

Iran's top diplomat met with his Qatari counterpart on Thursday in Tehran for talks on the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The visit by Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani follows a week of intense diplomacy in Iran involving separate meetings with Oman's top diplomat and senior Pakistani officials seeking ways to end the Middle East war and reopen Hormuz.

In a statement after the talks, Al Thani said they focused on efforts to de-escalate tensions and boost security in the region. "Qatar believes that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best way to overcome crises," he wrote on social media. He added that "talks stressed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law".