Ruptly
"Qatari Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has global consequences, emphasising that the crisis requires open talks with Iran rather than a military solution. Speaking in Singapore City on Saturday, Sheikh Saoud described the strait as one of the world's most critical chokepoints. "The Strait of Hormuz is like choking the neck of the world. When you hold the Strait of Hormuz closed, then you are having trouble everywhere," he explained. He said Qatar continues to work on the solution through a collective approach with GCC states and regional partners, but stressed that Iran must be part of any lasting solution. "We need to sit and discuss that in a very open discussion with Iran," he said, adding that Iran was both a neighbour and a country that would 'always have a role' in the Strait of Hormuz. Sheikh Saoud said Doha did not believe a military solution alone could resolve the crisis, calling instead for a UN-backed process and a sustainable regional arrangement. "We think that a military solution will not always be a solution," he stressed. He added that GCC states were working towards a clearer strategy on relations with Iran, but acknowledged that the bloc had not yet reached one unified approach. "If I speak openly, we don't have one main strategy on how to deal with Iran," he said. On Thursday, White House sources suggested a 'memorandum of understanding' for a 60-day ceasefire and the start of talks on the future of Iran's nuclear programme was close - subject to sign off by the president. Iranian media reported that a potential deal was not in fact finalised."
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