Doha, June 16 (QNA) - Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari confirmed that the State of Qatar will be represented at the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, alongside other regional stakeholders and the Pakistani mediators.

Speaking during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' weekly media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari said the State of Qatar participated in supporting the mediation track led by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

He explained that following meetings held in Islamabad, contacts were made with various countries in the region, including the State of Qatar, in order to bridge differences between the parties and bring an end to the crisis that has affected everyone.

He noted that next Friday will witness the direct signing of the memorandum of understanding that had previously been signed electronically, paving the way for the negotiation phase.

He pointed out that all regional parties, including the State of Qatar, are working to facilitate communication between the two sides to ensure the success of the process and the restoration of regional peace and security to the situation that existed before the war.

He highlighted that Qatar's role focused primarily on supporting the Pakistani efforts aimed at reaching a common understanding between the two sides, ensuring the restoration of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining the ceasefire, and moving forward with negotiations between the parties.

He expressed Qatar's cautious optimism that the signing of the memorandum of understanding will lead to the next phase of negotiations, contributing to regional stability through talks focused on the nuclear file and regional security issues.

He stressed that no conflict in the world ends without a sustainable mechanism to address it, and that achieving stability in the region requires continued dialogue, while lasting peace can only be achieved through an ongoing political process.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that continued regional dialogue represents an essential requirement in the next phase, with the aim of rebuilding trust among the parties.

He pointed out that following the signing of the agreed memorandum of understanding, the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened to regular navigation, contributing to the resumption of global energy supplies and reducing the burden that the closure of the strait has placed on energy markets, as well as global food markets due to fertilizer shortages.

He noted that the signing of the memorandum will open the door to negotiations aimed at establishing a sustainable framework for this vital maritime passage.

He expressed hope that the signing of the memorandum of understanding would mark the beginning of a negotiation process leading to sustainable peace in the region, noting that all parties had participated positively in the talks.

He added that a significant portion of the discussions had taken place through telephone calls and virtual meetings, in addition to direct meetings.

He also expressed satisfaction that the contents of the memorandum of understanding have not yet been disclosed, indicating that this suggests the process is proceeding in the right direction ahead of the official signing.

He affirmed that all key issues will be discussed within the framework of the memorandum and that its details will become clear after the signing.

He noted that the efforts led by Pakistan, with the support of a number of countries in the region, stemmed from a commitment to regional peace and security, particularly the security of Gulf states.

They also took into account the security of countries affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting implications for energy security and food security.

He reiterated that since the first day of the crisis, the State of Qatar has focused on the safety and security of its citizens and residents, and on protecting national and economic security as an essential component of the regional security framework.

He expressed hope that the agreement would serve as a first step toward broader regional consensus that guarantees sustainable security and stability in the region.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said contacts between the parties are still ongoing, and the State of Qatar continues, within the framework of its support for the Pakistani mediation, to communicate with the various parties with the aim of bringing the agreement safely to fruition, while at the same time confirming that no meetings are currently being held in Doha between the parties concerned or any other parties.

Regarding the economic repercussions of the war, Al Ansari explained that there is an economic aspect that relates not only to reconstruction, but also to investment in light of the circumstances witnessed by the region, adding that he cannot comment on the details of the economic aspect, but it can be confirmed that any effort of this kind must be an international effort, not a bilateral one, but rather part of full international coordination, aimed at ensuring that economic development in the region is a collective responsibility.

He stressed that no Qatari funds have been paid in this regard, but rather, there is international coordination to deal with the consequences of this crisis.

As for reports regarding an electricity linkage, Al Ansari confirmed that there is no agreement in this regard between the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying in this context that repercussions of the crisis have affected the economies of the region and energy security, but there is no agreement in this regard as reported by some media outlets.

He reiterated the State of Qatar's support for the Pakistani mediation and its backing of the brothers in Pakistan in their capacity as the principal mediators between the United States and Iran, noting that the State of Qatar is playing its role in supporting the security and stability of the region in coordination with various regional and international partners.

He stressed that the State of Qatar supports the mediation led by Pakistan, and there is no separate Qatari mediation in this file.

He pointed out that mediation processes by their nature go through complex stages and difficult moments before reaching any agreement, stressing that the mediation led by Pakistan was not an easy effort, and that all parties involved in it, foremost among them the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its officials, in addition to the supporting international teams, exerted great efforts to ensure its success.

Regarding negotiations related to the Gaza Strip, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the State of Qatar continues its mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza and support US President Donald Trump's plan there.

He explained that the recent meetings held in the Arab Republic of Egypt with the participation of mediators and regional and Palestinian parties resulted in positive understandings regarding some points of disagreement, while efforts continue to reach the full implementation of the proposed agreement.

In a related context, Al Ansari confirmed that the Lebanese file was among the issues discussed and agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding, stressing that “there is no justification for the continued Israeli attacks on brotherly Lebanon, and Lebanon's sovereignty is a red line for all of us in the region, and these attacks cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The continuation of escalation in the region does not contribute to consolidating any ceasefire and does not achieve sustainable peace, he continued, adding that the escalation in Gaza, the targeting of civilians, the violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, and the incursions into Syrian territory all endanger the security of the entire region and make the chances of reaching peaceful outcomes more difficult.

He added that Qatar is confident that continued communication with the United States and with regional and international parties will contribute to achieving a ceasefire, not only in the Gulf region but also in other areas, including Lebanon, noting that this remains linked to the extent of the Israeli government's commitment to respecting the ceasefire.

On the return of normalcy following the crisis, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that what we need now is to build a new reality based on rebuilding trust, reopening channels of communication, and reaching a common understanding regarding the shape of the region in the post-war phase, in light of what it has witnessed during the recent period.

He added that it cannot be said that we will return to the situation that previously existed in the region, but it can be confirmed that there is a significant need for dialogue and consensus on how to guarantee the security of the region and its countries in the next phase. (QNA)