Qatar’s Prime Minister: US and Iran to set up direct hotline to ensure Strait of Hormuz reopens; Qatar’s LNG production capacity will recover within weeks.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that the U.S. and Iran have agreed to establish a direct communication hotline to ensure shipping safety during mine-clearing and navigation resumption in the Strait of Hormuz, and prevent misinformation from disrupting vessel traffic. The mechanism will provide an official verification channel when vessels receive threat alerts, reducing the risk of misjudgment. Mohammed added that as the Strait’s situation stabilizes, Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity is expected to return to near-normal operations in the coming weeks. QatarEnergy has completed relevant preparations, but lifting force majeure status entirely remains dependent on meeting Strait security conditions. He noted that shipping volumes in the Strait of Hormuz are expected to return to pre-conflict levels roughly 30 days after the memorandum of understanding (MOU) takes effect, though restoring market confidence will take time. He also warned that the impact of tight supplies of commodities including fertilizers, urea, petrochemical products, and helium is likely to emerge gradually between September and October. Mohammed emphasized that forces within Iran and across various blocs may oppose the agreement and attempt to undermine the process, adding that the current ceasefire and Strait opening arrangements remain fragile, with the real test just beginning. Additionally, the U.S. and Iran have agreed to extend the April 8 ceasefire deal by 60 days and continue advancing nuclear talks. The U.S. also issued an exemption allowing Iran to continue selling oil until August 21 as the first set of economic incentives to encourage its compliance with the agreement.