US-Iran War Live: Qatar says no country has right to hinder access to Strait of Hormuz

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari declared on Tuesday that no country has the authority to hinder access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. While two LNG tankers successfully traversed the waterway, normal shipping traffic has yet to resume amid regional tensions. Al-Ansari also highlighted that negotiations between Iran and the U.S. require more time, praising Pakistan’s diplomatic mediation efforts. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi briefed parliament about ongoing talks with the U.S., reaffirming Iran’s right to continue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. Iran’s latest proposal to Washington reportedly includes ending conflicts across the region, lifting U.S. sanctions and naval restrictions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, compensating for war damages, and withdrawing U.S. forces from areas near Iran. Qatar confirmed it remains in contact with both Tehran and Washington, including discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Al-Ansari described Trump’s decision to postpone a planned strike on Iran—following requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—as a positive response. He acknowledged rising tensions with Iran while noting that Qatar maintains positive relations, despite Tehran’s attacks on Qatar. In related developments, Israel warned residents of 12 southern Lebanese towns to evacuate ahead of expected attacks targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Israeli forces also continued seizing Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters and detaining flotilla activists. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court for his 88th session in an ongoing corruption trial.