Qatar Warns of ‘Unbearable’ Global Economic Toll as Iran Nuclear Talks Persist

The conflict with Iran has imposed an “unbearable” strain on the global economy, Qatar warned Tuesday, confirming that diplomatic meetings aimed at securing a deal are ongoing and that Doha has resumed its mediation role between Washington and Tehran.

“How long can the international economy withstand the results of what is happening in our region?” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed Al Ansari asked during a press briefing in Doha.

Regarding the prospects for an agreement, Al Ansari acknowledged that obstacles remain in any negotiation. “Our role is to overcome the difficulties and try to bridge the gap between the two sides, and that is what is happening now,” he said. He confirmed that meetings have taken place in recent days with Qatar shuttling messages between the parties, though he declined to characterize the progress of the talks.

Al Ansari warned that further escalation would bring additional hardship to the region. He emphasized that Qatar continues to press for a peaceful resolution despite having been struck by Iranian missiles. The Gulf states, Iraq, and Jordan did not choose to participate in the war between Iran and the U.S., he noted, arguing they have no separate dispute with Tehran to settle.

“This is an aggression, an unwarranted aggression against our countries,” Al Ansari stated, adding that Tehran must clarify it will not target neighbors caught in a conflict they did not join. Despite the attacks, Qatar remains in contact with Iran in its effort to mediate an end to the war. Al Ansari said a lasting settlement would also require regional security arrangements founded on coexistence and non-aggression.

For now, Doha is focused on bringing the parties closer to an agreement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to free navigation, he said. Dr. Al Ansari highlighted that the Gulf exports far more than oil and gas, including urea and ammonia—critical for agriculture and fertilizer production—as well as helium, petrochemicals, and aluminum. He pointed to effects on crop yields in vulnerable nations and increased coal burning in countries that had been reducing their reliance on it, warning the strain could worsen as winter approaches.

The war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for Gulf exports. Qatar has repeatedly stated that full freedom of navigation must be restored as part of any peace deal between Washington and Tehran.

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