His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani affirmed that the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has laid the foundation for ending the war and establishing a negotiation track that paves the way toward a final agreement between the two sides.
In an interview with Al Jazeera TV on Monday, His Excellency said the memorandum is the outcome of extensive efforts that continued for weeks of continuous work with partners in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and with the support of several regional countries and international partners, aimed at creating a conducive environment for launching these negotiations.
He stated that the purpose of the memorandum is to stop the war, in addition to establishing a framework for negotiations, expressing hope that these efforts will succeed in reaching a final agreement.
His Excellency noted that the memorandum established a clear institutional framework for the negotiation process, designed based on previous experiences to ensure continuity of the talks through political-level commitments to hold regular meetings to address challenges facing technical teams and reach understandings on interim issues, pointing out that the process includes both technical and political dimensions.
He added that the institutional framework presented and discussed during Sunday's meeting is very good, expressing hope that technical discussions between the parties will continue and yield results.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that ongoing discussions between the Iranian and American sides focus on the nuclear file, while other issues between Iran and regional countries will be addressed within a regional framework, including regional security and the Strait of Hormuz, stressing coordination between Qatar, GCC states, and Arab and regional countries to work toward lasting solutions in accordance with a unified Gulf vision.
He said the current phase represents a stage of building toward the final agreement, following the establishment of its foundation.
His Excellency noted that the past period witnessed several challenges from the memorandum of understanding to the start of the negotiation round, particularly regarding Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, explaining that mechanisms have been put in place to avoid such issues in the future and ensure focus on the negotiation track.
He added that there is political will among all parties to engage in negotiations despite external influences on the negotiating environment, pointing out that Qatar, in partnership with Pakistan, has worked to establish a framework that safeguards the negotiation process and makes it more robust and stable in the coming phase.
Regarding Qatar's mediation role, he said Qatar will continue this role in partnership with Pakistan through joint working teams and committees comprising representatives from both sides, working to bring viewpoints closer and bridge gaps between the parties.
He stressed that the next phase will require intensive work, stating that Qatar's core message in this regard is that it has strived to establish a framework that protects this negotiation process.
