Qatar will host indirect preparatory meetings between the United States and Iran this week in its capital, Doha, Agence France-Presse reported on Monday.
While Pakistan has taken center stage over recent months as the primary mediator in diplomatic efforts aimed at closing the gaps between the positions of the US and Iran and securing an agreement between them, Qatar has stood out as an influential diplomatic player operating behind the scenes to support the negotiation track and pave the way for the understandings between the two sides, which will be officially signed, as announced in Switzerland, this coming Friday.
According to Qatari-owned London-based outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, during the weeks leading up to the announcement of the agreement, Doha stepped up its diplomatic activity through a series of visits and direct contacts with senior Iranian and American officials, leveraging its relationships with both sides and its extensive experience in managing regional and international mediation files.
According to the report, the talk of an approaching agreement between Washington and Tehran was accompanied by a media campaign against Qatar.
This campaign claimed that operational decisions regarding energy production were made in Qatar in coordination with Iran, either to serve Iran's interests or to influence developments in the region.
Qatar accused of behind-the-scenes deals with Iran
A Washington Post report stated on Friday that Qatar offered Iran a "secret deal" before operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury began on February 28, in exchange for a promise that Iran would not strike Qatar's energy infrastructure.
Tehran's Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said that Iran will be connecting its electrical grid with Qatar. "Studies are in the final stage, and we are beginning the implementation phase," he said.
It was further claimed that Qatar exaggerated the damage caused to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Ras Laffan, or even fabricated it, as a pretext to shut it down following Iranian missile attacks against it.
Qatar's International Media Office rejected the claims last Friday, stating they are "completely false and utterly baseless."
It added that the falsity of the claims is particularly glaring given that Qatar itself was a target of Iranian missile attacks on its territory at the time.
The office further stated that "the accusations are based on fabricated and unreliable materials originating from parties seeking to sabotage mediation efforts, damage Qatar's reputation, and negatively impact the close strategic partnership between Qatar and the United States."
Qatari visits to Washington, talks with VP JD Vance
Qatari diplomacy engaged with all parties involved. Tehran hosted a series of visits by high-ranking Qatari delegations, the most recent of which took place just hours before the announcement of the agreement.
The first visit was held this past May, during which Qatari mediators held intensive discussions with senior Iranian officials regarding outstanding issues that had prevented the achievement of final understandings.
The second and third visits took place in June, with consultations focusing on narrowing the remaining gaps between Washington's and Tehran's positions and securing the political guarantees necessary for the agreement's success.
These moves were accompanied by continuous Qatari contact with the US administration and other regional actors.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Washington twice, at the end of March and in mid-May, meeting with the US Vice President JD Vance to discuss the implications of the war in the region and the conditions required to reach an agreement.
Qatar's role in the US-Iran agreement
At the end of May, Doha hosted a senior Iranian delegation that included Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, as well as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The meetings addressed a potential agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war, frozen Iranian assets, maritime navigation security, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and confidence-building measures between Tehran and Washington.
According to Gulf observers, Qatar's role was not direct mediation, but rather providing a reliable communication channel between all parties, conveying messages and proposals, and helping to align positions during the critical moments of the negotiations.
A former Qatari prime minister wrote on X/Twitter, "Qatari diplomacy played an important role in resolving the disputes that led to the agreement between the United States and Iran." He warned against a policy of merely extending temporary ceasefires, stating that this would not bring long-term, stable peace and security. He added: "The current agreement is what could be achieved under the current international and regional circumstances, and it requires continuous and thorough work to build a solid foundation for permanent agreements."
The Qatari Press Center director-general added, "When doors are closed, Qatar holds the keys to the locks."
According to him, Qatar's extensive experience in mediation and crisis resolution provided a significant boost to Pakistan, helping it achieve its goals in stopping the war and reaching a final agreement.
He claimed that "Qatar possesses a rich track record of bringing adversaries to the negotiating table, out of the belief that dialogue is the only path to a solution."
