Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al‑Thani will travel to Tehran on Thursday to discuss restoring mediation after the United States and Iran exchanged criticism over new sanctions. The two sides have paused military actions for about a month, but no formal peace talks have begun. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping lane, has been a point of contention since the war began on Feb. 28. A projectile struck a tanker in the strait on Aug. 26, causing a fire that was extinguished; all crew were reported safe. Oil flows through the strait fell to 5 million barrels per day, the lowest level in three months, compared with about 20 million barrels before the conflict. Iran and Oman have been negotiating how to share control and revenue of the waterway, but a final agreement has not been reached. Iranian officials gave conflicting statements: a Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson said Iran and Oman had reached an acceptable understanding, while a senior Iranian source told Reuters the talks were still ongoing and no deal had been finalized. Qatar has acted as a back‑channel mediator between Iran and the United States, helping to secure a cease‑fire in June. During the Tehran visit, Al‑Thani will address freedom of navigation in the strait and seek to return to the pre‑Feb. 28 status, according to Qatari officials. He will also discuss ways to de‑escalate tensions. The United Nations maritime agency recorded 70 incidents in the strait since Feb. 28, resulting in 19 seafarer deaths.