Qatar-US Discuss Strategic Partnership Amid Middle East Crisis

Beirut (ANTARA) - Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss strategic partnerships in defence and energy, according to a report from the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Sunday. Axios previously reported, citing sources, that Rubio and Witkoff met with the Qatari Prime Minister in Miami. The US State Department subsequently confirmed that the two sides held talks on security issues in the Middle East. They also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and Pakistan’s mediation efforts to ease tensions and strengthen regional security, the report added. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that all parties need to support mediation efforts, stating that this would help address the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and open the way for a comprehensive agreement ensuring lasting peace in the region, the report added. On 28 February, the US and Israel began attacking Iran. Washington and Tehran announced a ceasefire from 7 April and continued with talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, which ended without conclusion. Without reports of renewed hostilities, the United States is blockading Iranian ports.