• Source:JND

The United States and Iran on Thursday signed an agreement to suspend hostilities across multiple fronts after months of conflict. The talks, mediated by Pakistan, led to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at pausing tensions and paving the way for further negotiations on key disputes. However, it was not just Islamabad mediating the talks between Tehran and Washington. Qatar also emerged as a central backchannel in the negotiations.

Qatar’s role in the negotiations

Qatari delegations travelled to Tehran twice in the past week for talks with Iranian officials, including 17 hours of continuous negotiations that eventually helped secure the deal. According to a report by the Financial Times, the US wanted Qatar to step in as part of the peace negotiation process after talks held in Islamabad in April “floundered.” Qatar was also targeted during the course of the wider regional conflict.

Qatar has increasingly become an important mediator in regional conflicts due to its ability to maintain communication with both Washington and Tehran. However, its role has not always been straightforward. On March 24, Qatar officially distanced itself from the ongoing mediation efforts, emphasising instead the protection of the country in the face of Iranian attacks.

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Washington Relied On Its Trusted Ally

Later, as tensions continued, Qatar re-engaged in the talks and resumed shuttle diplomacy, while Pakistan continued to act as the main facilitator of the broader negotiation process. Qatar’s renewed involvement highlighted its role as a key US ally and an important backchannel in ongoing negotiations. Qatar is also a designated major non-NATO ally of the US and hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in West Asia.

“The truce appeared to be unravelling, with Trump warning that it was on ‘massive life support’ and describing Iran’s latest proposal as a ‘piece of garbage’. Within a few days, Washington asked Qatar to step up. Until then Doha had been playing a supporting role to Pakistan, the surprise choice to lead the mediation, alongside Egypt and Turkey,” a report by FT stated.

Qatar’s mediation approach

Qatar’s return to mediation, despite earlier tensions, highlights its reliance on diplomacy rather than military solutions. Its position as a channel between rival sides has been central to keeping talks alive. On May 22, a Reuters report revealed that a Qatari negotiation team in Tehran had been involved in efforts to secure a final peace deal. Until then, Doha had largely rejected claims that it was playing a mediatory role in the West Asia conflict, particularly after Iranian missile strikes damaged infrastructure in Qatar.

Behind the final deal

Qatari negotiators carried out extended discussions in Tehran, including a final 17-hour push to secure the agreement. The talks reportedly came close to collapse several times. Despite setbacks, mediation efforts continued, with Qatar coordinating closely with US officials and other regional actors to prevent the talks from collapsing.

The agreement eventually took shape as a memorandum of understanding, laying the groundwork for a more permanent settlement. The negotiations also involved wider regional diplomacy, with leaders from countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Pakistan engaging in efforts to prevent escalation. Qatar has previously acted as a mediator in conflicts involving Hamas and the Taliban.

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