On 10 November 2026, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, made an unscheduled visit to Paris, where he met with European ministers and a representative from Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The day before, he had held talks with US President Donald Trump regarding the war with Iran. The visit took place against a backdrop of diplomatic efforts to avert further US strikes against Iran. According to European diplomats, the Qatari Prime Minister expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of resolving the conflict without further escalation.
What did the representatives of Qatar and the G7 discuss?
Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also heads the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia. The talks took place as part of a meeting of foreign ministers G7 in Paris.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the main topic of discussion was the crisis surrounding Iran, in particular its implications for regional security and the global economy.
According to Reuters, two European diplomats reported that the Qatari Prime Minister was cautiously optimistic following his trip to Washington. He believes that a diplomatic solution remains possible, despite the differences between the US and Iran.
Qatar is acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Last week, Al Thani visited the Iranian capital, and on 9 November he met with Trump at the White House.
Trump has postponed further strikes against Iran, but has not lifted the blockade
Following his meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister, Donald Trump stated that he would refrain from taking any new military action for the time being strikes against Iran. According to him, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and other countries in the region had called for such a decision.
At the same time, the US President emphasised that the naval blockade of Iran in Strait of Hormuz for as long as it remains in operation. This route is of key importance for the transport of energy resources from the Persian Gulf.
The Iranian side is proposing to lift the blockade of its ports, lift some of the sanctions and halt the bombing in exchange for ending its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The US administration has not yet accepted these terms.
The US has pledged to keep up the pressure on Tehran
During the G7 summit, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would continue its policy of tough economic sanctions against Iran.
According to four diplomats present at the talks, Rubio explained that the US administration sees a choice between a resumption of large-scale hostilities and accepting Iran’s demands.
Washington believes that the sanctions are limiting Tehran’s ability to fund its activities in the region. At the same time, according to Reuters, there is no consensus amongst members of the Trump administration on how to proceed.
In particular, the vice-president JD Vance is in favour of reaching an agreement with Iran. Rubio and some of the other advisers, however, support continuing economic pressure.
Is it possible for the war between the US and Iran to come to an end?
War between the US and Iran, which began on 28 February 2026 with Israel’s involvement, has been ongoing for more than eight months. Negotiations to bring it to an end have not yet led to a final settlement.
Following the meeting in Paris, diplomatic talks are continuing. Qatar is attempting to bring the parties’ positions closer together, but Washington is not agreeing to the terms of a ceasefire proposed by Tehran.
As of 10 November, the US has postponed further large-scale strikes, but is maintaining sanctions and the naval blockade. No specific agreements on ending the war have been announced.
