DOHA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Qatar on Tuesday reaffirmed that diplomatic contacts and exchanges of messages between Washington and Tehran were continuing through mediation channels, according to Qatar's Foreign Ministry.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al-Hashmi, director of the media and communications department at Qatar's Foreign Ministry, said contacts, visits and exchanges of messages aimed at resolving the conflict between the United States and Iran had not stopped.
"The efforts have not stopped, and as mediators, we must remain optimistic," Al-Hashmi said, adding that the objective was to reach a settlement that would end the crisis, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt the escalation.
He called for an urgent diplomatic settlement to spare the region, the wider world, the global economy and energy supplies from further costs arising from the conflict.
He stressed that a sustainable and immediate resolution to the crisis must be reached through dialogue rather than military action.
Al-Hashmi said Qatar, other regional countries and the international community hoped for a settlement as soon as possible, emphasizing the need to continue mediation efforts without interruption and that a peaceful settlement was the only way to preserve regional security and stability. ■
