Middle East

Qatar says Iran should not use Hormuz to ‘blackmail’ Gulf countries

DOHA — Iran should not use the Strait of Hormuz, which it has blocked since the start of the Middle East war, as a means to blackmail Gulf states, Qatar’s top diplomat said Tuesday.

“Iran should not use this strait as a weapon to pressure or to blackmail the Gulf countries,” said Qatari Foreign Minister and Premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Turkiye supports efforts ​to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on ‌Tuesday, ‌adding ​the ‌channel ⁠should ​not be ⁠used as a “weapon” during the Iran war.

Speaking at ⁠a press conference ‌in ‌Doha ​alongside ‌his Qatari counterpart, ‌Fidan also said Ankara was contributing ‌to efforts led by Pakistan to ⁠find ⁠a negotiated end to war between Iran and the United States. — (AFP)