Russia, Qatar, China urge dialogue to ease Iran-US tensions

MOSCOW, Sept 8: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said that they “regret” that the Arab states have been “dragged against their will” into a confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran.

He also said that both Moscow and Riyadh are pushing for compromise solutions in order to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States.

Tehran says that Washington must return to the terms of the MoU, which expired last month, to resolve the conflict.

The opening of the Strait of Hormuz constitutes paramount importance for us and for everyone in the region, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ibrahim Al Hashami said in a briefing.

Qatar is working with partners in the region and around the world, including China, to resume talks between the United States and Iran, a Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is currently leading a delegation in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasised the importance of dialogue in talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, telling him that the tense situation in the Gulf has severely compromised the security of countries in the region.

He said in Beijing tensions “continue to affect the stability of energy markets, shipping and supply chains”.

“Pressure through guns and cannons is not the way out. Dialogue and negotiation are the right path,” Wang said, according to an official summary released by his ministry.

He also thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts and its pursuit of peace, expressing his willingness to maintain communication and coordination with the country on international and regional affairs.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi have discussed regional developments, including the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in a meeting in Beijing, according to the Foreign Ministry’s statement on X.�"AL JAZEERA