TEHRAN — Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called for de-escalation during a meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, as Iran and Oman prepared a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
The strait is a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, and its closure has disrupted oil markets and international commerce.
Qatar's Prime Minister stressed the importance of respecting neighboring states' sovereignty and upholding freedom of navigation. He said continued diplomatic efforts were essential to reduce tensions and resolve differences through dialogue, according to a Qatari ministry statement.
Mediating nations including Qatar and Pakistan have increased diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States. The White House has said no direct talks are currently underway.
Ghalibaf called for national unity, warning that internal divisions would weaken Iran as the country faces economic pressure. He was reelected as parliament speaker at a critical moment for Tehran, during a public rift within Iran's leadership between those pursuing diplomacy and hardliners favoring resistance.
Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Ahmed Zeraatkar said Thursday that 40 percent of natural gas production capacity at the South Pars gas field, damaged during the conflict, has been restored. South Pars, shared with Qatar, is the world's largest offshore natural gas field.
Israel launched an attack on South Pars infrastructure weeks into the conflict. President Trump criticized the strike, saying the U.S. was not warned in advance, and declared there would be "no more" such Israeli attacks on the field.
Iran's oil and gas production has been severely curtailed by a U.S. naval blockade of its ports and expanding sanctions aimed at pressuring Iranian leaders to accept a peace deal. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said Thursday that the sale of oil to customers in distant waters has continued despite the blockade, though he acknowledged sales had "declined to some extent." He declined to provide details, citing potential exploitation by adversaries.
