Washington: American experts have praised the State of Qatar's diplomatic efforts in helping to secure a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, saying the Gulf state's mediation played a significant role in reducing tensions and bringing the two sides closer to an agreement.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), analysts said Qatar, working alongside regional and international partners, helped facilitate a memorandum of understanding that led to an end to hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
The experts argued that the agreement has created new opportunities for a more durable political settlement and could contribute to broader regional stability.
David Des Roches, an associate professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said Qatar had a long track record of mediating complex conflicts and approached its diplomatic role with "seriousness and responsibility".
He said Qatar's involvement became particularly important when direct channels of communication faced difficulties, helping to shift the situation from confrontation towards dialogue and peace.
Des Roches described the latest mediation effort as part of a broader pattern of Qatari diplomacy, citing previous initiatives in conflicts involving Ethiopia and Eritrea, South Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Darfur, as well as its role in facilitating negotiations between the United States and the Taliban.
He added that Qatar's mediation efforts were widely respected in Washington, saying the country had intervened at an important moment and had demonstrated both diplomatic capability and political vision.
Bob Reid, an American journalist and Middle East analyst, said Qatar had maintained a measured approach since the start of the crisis before becoming more actively involved in de-escalation efforts.
According to Reid, Qatari diplomacy helped overcome obstacles to the signing of the memorandum of understanding, which he described as a political framework for containing tensions and creating space for negotiations on unresolved issues.
He cautioned, however, that the region's future security arrangements remained uncertain and that reshaping the regional security environment would take time.
Heba Abdel Wahab, a researcher specializing in Middle East affairs, said Qatar's role as a mediator was consistent with its longstanding policy of maintaining open channels of communication with a wide range of regional actors.
She said Doha had emerged as a trusted interlocutor for both Washington and Tehran and argued that the mediation highlighted the growing role of Gulf states in managing regional crises rather than merely reacting to them.
Abdel Wahab added that the success of the mediation could further strengthen Qatar's reputation as a regional diplomatic actor capable of engaging with all sides.
However, she noted that any lasting understanding between the United States and Iran would ultimately depend on the two countries' ability to resolve their underlying disagreements rather than simply contain military escalation.
