live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum commenced on Saturday in the Qatari capital, focusing on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
The two-day event brings together world leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss pressing international issues, from conflicts and humanitarian crises to technology and global governance.
Speaking at the opening session, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned of “serious setbacks” in justice, the rule of law, and accountability worldwide.
Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as foreign minister, said weakened legal systems have exacerbated global crises and described today’s conflicts and humanitarian emergencies as stemming from a “culture of impunity,” creating an “unprecedented cycle of crises.”
He stressed that mediation is central to Qatar’s foreign policy, describing it as “not a political luxury but a deep-rooted and consistent method.”
Sheikh Mohammed called for the restoration of trust in the international legal order, emphasising the need for a fairer global system, and noted that regional challenges are closely linked to a broader decline in respect for international norms.
High-profile attendees and key sessions
The 2025 forum programme, developed in collaboration with global think tanks and research institutions, includes sessions such as:
- “The Gaza Reckoning: Reassessing Global Responsibilities and Pathways to Peace,”
- “Gulf–EU Relations in the Age of Strategic Isolation,”
- “AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Strategies for Responsible Use in the Military Domain,” and
- “US–China Relations: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities of a Changing Global Order.”
Notable participants include Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, World Economic Forum President and CEO Borge Brende, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.
The previous edition of the forum, held in December 2024 under the theme “The Innovation Imperative,” drew more than 5,000 attendees, including over 350 speakers, underscoring Doha’s growing role as a hub for dialogue on global challenges.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
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