BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 27. Iran and Qatar have discussed an agreement to implement a joint project aimed at clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussions took place during a meeting between the foreign ministers of Qatar and Iran in Tehran.
According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed an agreement concerning the implementation of a “joint project” to remove mines from the strategically important waterway.
The initiative comes amid heightened concerns over maritime security and freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is one of the world’s most important energy transportation routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and providing access to international markets.
Any mine-clearing operation could play an important role in reducing risks to commercial vessels and restoring safer navigation through the waterway.
Qatar has repeatedly called for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and for conditions there to return to the situation that existed before the current crisis.
The discussions in Tehran indicate growing coordination between Qatar and Iran over practical measures aimed at improving maritime security and reducing risks to shipping.
