Qatar emir, Iran’s top security official discuss regional de-escalation efforts

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met in Doha on Wednesday with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to discuss bilateral ties and regional de-escalation efforts, the Emiri Diwan said.

Discussions covered cooperation between Qatar and Iran and ways to support and strengthen relations, it said in a statement.

The two sides also reviewed developments in the region and efforts aimed at de-escalation and enhancing regional security, in addition to other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Larijani’s visit to Qatar is part of a regional tour that included Oman. It comes a day after he held talks with Omani officials following the first round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

According to a statement by Oman’s Foreign Ministry, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik met Larijani in Muscat and discussed the latest developments in the Iran-US negotiations, as well as “pathways to achieve a balanced and equitable agreement for all parties.”

On Friday, indirect negotiations between the US and Iran were held in Muscat amid escalating tensions and a reported US military buildup in the region. US President Donald Trump said later that evening that new talks between the two sides would take place “early” next week, without specifying a date.

Tehran accuses the US administration and Israel of fabricating pretexts for military intervention and regime change and has vowed to respond to any attack, even a limited one. Iranian officials insist that sanctions relief must accompany any agreement to limit the country’s nuclear program.

Uranium enrichment remains a key point of contention. Iran demands the lifting of Western economic sanctions in exchange for restricting its nuclear activities. The US, meanwhile, has called on Iran to fully halt enrichment and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium abroad.

Washington has also sought to expand the scope of talks to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the region, while Tehran has repeatedly said it will negotiate only on its nuclear program.