Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has stated that establishing a direct communication hotline between the United States and Iran is essential for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview with the Financial Times published on Wednesday. He also confirmed that Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production would return to normal levels within a few weeks, barring a damaged facility.
Hotline Agreement from Switzerland Talks
The hotline was agreed upon by the warring parties during high-level talks in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21, 2026, which included US Vice President JD Vance, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Qatar’s Prime Minister. Sheikh Mohammed explained that the hotline is needed to counter disinformation and ensure coordination while mines are cleared from the crucial waterway. The communication channel will allow verification of threats to ships and guarantee safe passage.
“So the hotline’s purpose is to make sure that any ship that gets any type of threat is to be verified by Iran … and to let the ship pass safely,” Sheikh Mohammed told the FT.
Qatar’s LNG Production Recovery
Qatar, the world’s second-largest LNG exporter, saw its facilities hit by Iran in the early weeks of the war. The country suspended LNG production after the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28, 2026, following a drone attack on Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan plant. Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar has already begun preparing its tankers after the warring parties signed a memorandum of understanding last week.
“Within a few weeks, production will come back to normal, except the damaged facility,” he said. “Our teams have been mobilized already for a few weeks. QatarEnergy is preparing for operations to come back to normal as soon as the situation in the strait normalizes.”
Strait of Hormuz Strategic Importance
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes. Its closure due to the conflict has disrupted global energy markets. The hotline is expected to facilitate mine-clearing operations and restore safe navigation. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the communication link is crucial for getting verified information to guarantee vessel safety.
The interview underscores Qatar’s role as a mediator and its efforts to stabilize energy supplies amid regional tensions. The resumption of LNG production will be a significant step toward normalizing global gas markets, which have been under strain since the conflict began.
