Qatar issued a direct warning to Iran on Tuesday 12 May 2026 against using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of pressure or blackmail toward Gulf states, as the war between the United States and Iran enters its third month and energy markets react to mounting instability. Speaking at a press conference in Doha alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Iran should not use the strait as a weapon to pressure or to blackmail the Gulf countries. Hakan Fidan echoed the message, stating that the channel must not be used as a weapon during the war.

The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked by Iran since the start of the conflict on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Tehran retaliated against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, targeting civilian infrastructure, airports and energy facilities. The blockade has halted crucial maritime exports for the energy-rich Gulf. About a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas usually passes through the narrow waterway. The closure is straining Gulf economies that depend on oil and LNG exports, while pushing global energy prices higher.

Qatar’s warning follows a phone call on Sunday 10 May between Sheikh Mohammed and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the call, the Qatari premier told Araghchi that using the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool would only deepen the crisis in the Gulf. He stressed that freedom of navigation is a firmly established principle that is not open to compromise, and that closing the strait or using it as a pressure card only serves to deepen the crisis and expose the vital interests of regional countries to danger. He also urged all parties to respond positively to mediation efforts to end the war and to create suitable conditions for progress in negotiations.

Qatar has positioned itself as a key intermediary in the conflict. Alongside Turkey and Pakistan, Doha is supporting diplomatic efforts to reach a solution. Sheikh Mohammed visited the United States in recent days to bolster mediation and ensure a positive response to these efforts. On Saturday 9 May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met the Qatari prime minister in Miami to discuss the need to continue working together to deter threats and promote stability and security across the Middle East.

The tensions come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to its latest proposals to end the war and begin peace talks. Rubio said on Friday that Washington expected a response within hours, but by Saturday there was still no sign of movement from Tehran. The US proposal would formally end the war before talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump, due to visit China this week, has increased pressure to draw a line under the war, which has thrown energy markets into turmoil and poses a growing threat to the world economy.

Despite hints of progress, the military situation remains volatile. On Sunday 11 May, Iran launched new drone attacks in the Gulf. A fire broke out on a cargo ship heading from the UAE to Qatar after it was struck by a drone. The UAE said its air defences intercepted two drones from Iran, while Kuwait destroyed several more. No casualties were reported, but the strikes pierced a month of relative calm. Qatar’s foreign ministry described the maritime incident as a dangerous and unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and safety of maritime trade routes and vital supplies in the region.

Tehran has warned that vessels of states that follow US sanctions against Iran will face difficulties crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian lawmakers are drafting a bill to formalize Iran’s management of the strait, with clauses including forbidden passage to vessels of hostile states. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy warned that any attack on Iranian commercial shipping would trigger a heavy assault on US military bases and enemy vessels in the region.

The United States has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports since 13 April, claiming it turned back 61 commercial vessels and disabled four others. On Friday, US forces struck two Iranian oil tankers allegedly attempting to breach the blockade. Iran called the attack a violation of the ceasefire framework and proof that Washington cannot be trusted in diplomacy.

A rare sign of easing came on Saturday when a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker sailed toward the strait en route to Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data. Sources said the move was approved by Iran to build confidence with Qatar and Pakistan, both mediators in the war. If completed, it would mark the first transit of a Qatari LNG vessel through the strait since the conflict started.

The war has already disrupted global markets. Oil prices climbed as US-Iran talks broke down, and gold slipped amid uncertainty over the peace proposal. Analysts report growing electronic disruption in the Gulf, with dozens of vessels appearing inland or moving at impossible speeds on ship-tracking systems due to signal jamming linked to heightened military activity.

Turkey is supporting efforts to reopen the strait and has contributed to mediation led by Pakistan. Fidan said Ankara wants negotiations to focus on ending the war in the region. Iran’s response to the US proposals was sent to Pakistan, which is acting as a go-between. Tehran insists the proposals must address a comprehensive end to the regional conflict.

Sheikh Mohammed reiterated that Doha supports mediation efforts aimed at resolving the crisis through peaceful means. He called for adhering to international law and the United Nations Charter, and for putting the interests of the region and its people first to strengthen regional and global security, support de-escalation, and ease tensions.

The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains the main flashpoint. With one-fifth of global oil supply at stake, any prolonged closure or military escalation risks a broader energy crisis. Gulf states, which have borne the brunt of Iranian attacks on US assets and civilian infrastructure, are pushing for a diplomatic solution that restores freedom of navigation without further destabilizing the region.