Qatar has firmly rejected reports claiming it offered Iran $12 billion to facilitate a deal aimed at ending the stalled US-Israeli conflict, describing the allegations as “utterly baseless.”
In a statement posted on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari dismissed the claims and suggested they were being spread to disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts. He said such narratives are intended to undermine attempts to reduce regional tensions and discredit Qatar’s role in mediation.
“Qatar’s diplomatic role, in coordination with regional partners, is well established & publicly documented, & such narratives are nothing more than desperate attempts to tarnish Qatar’s reputation as a trusted international peace facilitator,” he said.
The denial comes at a time when senior Iranian officials are engaged in a series of diplomatic visits to Qatar, as efforts intensify to finalize a potential agreement. Iranian Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati arrived in Qatar on Monday, shortly after a Qatari delegation visited Tehran last week to discuss the status of Iran’s frozen financial assets.
Estimates suggest that Iranian funds held in Qatar amount to approximately $12 billion, which Tehran has been seeking to unlock as part of Pakistan-mediated negotiations with the United States.
Tensions in the region escalated on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel carried out surprise strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation from Tehran and leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Although a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire was implemented on April 8, subsequent talks in Islamabad did not result in a final settlement.
Former US President Donald Trump later extended the ceasefire indefinitely while maintaining a naval blockade. Last week, he stated that a deal has been “largely negotiated” and is now awaiting final approval.
