Qatar’s former and current leadership have urged the establishment of a collective regional security framework with Iran, calling for direct dialogue, economic integration, and a unified Gulf stance on border security ahead of planned meetings in Oman.
Regional diplomacy in the Gulf faces a pivotal test as former and current Qatari officials push for a structural overhaul of relations with Tehran. Speaking on the international stage, Qatar’s Prime Minister warned that the Gulf region cannot return to its pre-war footing without a security framework ensuring no one is a threat to each other.
The diplomatic push coincides with high-level preparations for multilateral engagement. Iran announced that diplomatic delegations from Iran, Iraq, and Gulf states will convene in Muscat to address regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.
Charting a New Roadmap for Tehran and the Gulf
Former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani welcomed the upcoming Muscat talks, arguing that the bloc must seize the moment to establish a new framework for relations with Tehran. Having served as prime minister from 2007 to 2013 and foreign minister from 1992 until 2013, he contended that collective engagement remains a viable path forward for the region.
Sheikh Hamad emphasized that participants must address existing problems before presenting any offers. In a post shared on X, he urged that discussions establish a roadmap for future relations with Iran designed to ensure stability for both them and us.
“I also hope that the discussions will focus on ways to resolve the existing problems first before presenting any offers, and on laying out a roadmap for our relations with Iran in the future that ensures stability for both them and us.”
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, Former Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Economic Integration and the Vision of an Economic Lake
Beyond immediate security arrangements, the diplomatic initiative outlines a comprehensive framework for commercial cooperation. Sheikh Hamad renewed proposals to transform the Gulf basin into an important economic lake
based on exchanging benefits and serving common interests, which would include removing customs duties on exports between Iran and GCC states.
According to the regional proposals, removing trade barriers would constitute the first steps towards demonstrating good faith on both sides
while discouraging reliance on temporary solutions.
“temporary solutions and ceasefires do not serve either side; rather, they harm everyone.”
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, Former Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Securing Maritime Trade Through the Strait of Hormuz
The security of the Strait of Hormuz remains a priority for energy markets and commercial shipping. Before the conflict, approximately 20.9 million barrels of the world’s oil supply passed through the waterway daily, making freedom of navigation essential to international trade stability.
Recent disruptions have affected maritime commerce. In response, Qatari leadership has consistently maintained that the crucial waterway must remain open to international navigation, rejecting any change to the Strait’s pre-war status and fees not covered by international law.
Diplomatic channels between Iran and Oman have focused heavily on securing safe commercial shipping through the Strait. Monday’s multilateral talks in Oman are expected to discuss the outcome of those talks, bridging the gap between Iranian maritime security initiatives and broader Gulf interests.
Unified Regional Defense and Solidarity With Riyadh
Alongside negotiations with Iran, the diplomatic roadmap addresses internal security coordination within the Gulf bloc. Sheikh Hamad emphasized that the alliance must adopt a firmer, unified stance against external threats targeting member states, specifically pointing to the dangers posed by the Houthi movement in Yemen.
To operationalize this collective defense doctrine, the former prime minister called for the active reactivation of the Peninsula Shield Forces—now known as the GCC Unified Military Command—to help protect Saudi borders. He reiterated that an attack on Saudi Arabia is an attack on all GCC countries,
underscoring that regional resilience depends on internal solidarity regardless of any disagreements between them.