Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said that the Strait of Hormuz should not be used as a weapon in war.
The warning comes as a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies faces increasing instability. Any prolonged disruption to the waterway threatens to destabilize international oil markets and escalate regional conflicts.
Speaking in Doha, the prime minister addressed the risks associated with the current geopolitical climate [1]. The caution follows a period of stalled negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which has increased the likelihood that the waterway could be militarized [1].
Reports indicate the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked for more than two months [3]. This blockage coincides with heightened tensions and warnings regarding the placement of naval mines in the region.
U.S. officials said it is difficult to restore safe passage through the area. It could take six months to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz [4]. Such a timeline suggests that even if a diplomatic resolution is reached, the physical risks to shipping would persist for a significant duration.
While the prime minister issued his warning in Doha, other diplomatic channels have echoed the sentiment. Qatar's foreign ministry previously said Iran that the Strait would not be used as a political punching bag [2].
The Qatari leadership continues to emphasize the need for diplomatic restraint to prevent the waterway from becoming a tool of war [1]. The persistence of the blockade remains a primary concern for global trade, and regional security.
“The Strait of Hormuz should not be used as a weapon in war”
The warnings from Qatar highlight the fragility of the global energy supply chain, where a single geographic chokepoint can be leveraged for political concessions. Because the U.S. and Iran remain in a diplomatic deadlock, the physical militarization of the Strait—specifically through mining—transforms a political dispute into a long-term logistical crisis that cannot be solved instantly by a ceasefire.
