Qatar says US-Iran mediation efforts 'ongoing'

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari says efforts to bridge the gap between the US and Iran are ongoing with both countries studying proposals presented for a possible resolution to the conflict, Report informs referring to Al Jazeera.

Al-Ansari said all GCC states agree that the US-Iran conflict must not be allowed to escalate further, warning that this could undermine negotiations.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that the only path forward is through diplomacy, to which all sides remain committed.

He also said freedom of navigation is non-negotiable, condemning threats to vessels belonging to Qatar or other countries.

Speaking at his weekly news briefing, al-Ansari said the US and Iran "remain committed to the negotiation process", with Qatar facilitating the "real-time exchange of proposals between them."

While he said he could not give information on any specific developments, he said he remained hopeful about the prospects for a resolution.

"If there were no hope, there'd be no negotiations. As long [as] all the parties are committed to working together … this means there is hope," he said.