Qatar's Prime Minister Arrives in Tehran for Mediation as White House Says No Talks With Iran Are Underway

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Tehran on Thursday, 5 Shahrivar 1405 (August 27, 2026), for meetings with Iranian officials. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei had announced the visit Wednesday evening as part of Qatar's mediation efforts to reduce tension following the US and Israeli military attacks on Iran. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told Al Jazeera the visit aims to explore ways to de-escalate tension and create conditions for dialogue, with restoring the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-February 28 (9 Esfand) status also on the agenda.

Hours before the visit, a White House spokesperson told Al Mayadeen that no negotiations with Tehran are underway or planned, and that the naval blockade on Iran remains fully in force, according to Mehr News Agency, carried by Donya-e-Eqtesad on Thursday, 5 Shahrivar. US President Donald Trump had told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, 4 Shahrivar, that he was in no hurry for Iran to return to the negotiating table. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a letter to the UN Secretary-General late Wednesday, called the new US sanctions "economic terrorism" and urged the Security Council to condemn them.