Qatar Hopes Iran-US Peace Deal Will Soon Open Strait of Hormuz

The text of a peace agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States is still being processed. Qatar, acting as mediator, hopes the MoU will soon open the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said the Gulf state hopes the US-Iran agreement will allow their liquefied natural gas (LNG) to flow again to countries in need. “We hope this MoU will help open the navigational route in Hormuz so Qatar can continue supplying LNG,” he said during a press conference.

Al-Ansari noted Qatar will be represented in Geneva on Friday for the official signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.

Previously, US Vice President Vance told NBC News that the deal requires nuclear inspectors to return to Iran. He described this as a core part of the agreement, which is why the document cannot yet be made public. “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United States will help Iran destroy its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and that is something that is spelled out very clearly in the MoU,” he said.

Vance added that a date for nuclear inspections could be formulated on Friday. “Because there is broad agreement on this, there is not much disagreement on this particular issue; it should happen very quickly,” the vice president added.

However, Iranian officials previously stated that negotiations on the nuclear issue would be held after the signing of the initial agreement. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, when announcing the MoU on Monday, also said that “negotiations for a final agreement will be postponed until the other party fulfils its obligations under” the initial deal.

The peace agreement between the US and Iran was first announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday. Sharif said that Washington and Tehran agreed to an “immediate and permanent” cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.