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The resumption of indirect US-Iran negotiations in 2026, mediated by Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman, represents a critical test case for contemporary conflict resolution in the Arabian Gulf. While existing studies have extensively examined US-Iran hostility through the lenses of nuclear proliferation, sanctions regimes, and military deterrence, the mediating role of small-state actors, particularly Qatar, remains theoretically underdeveloped. This paper addresses this gap by constructing an analytical framework for understanding Qatar’s mediation strategy in the 2026 shuttle diplomacy efforts, with a specific focus on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and broader de-escalation. Drawing upon mediation theory, neoclassical realism, and hedging literature, the proposed framework conceptualizes Qatari mediation along three analytical dimensions: (1) structural enablers: Qatar’s strategic geography, financial resources, and institutionalized relationships with both Washington and Tehran; (2) strategic motivations: Doha’s pursuit of regional stability, protection of its maritime economic interests, and preservation of its security guarantee from the US while maintaining ties with Iran; and (3) tactical modalities: the indirect, rotating mediation structure involving multiple state intermediaries, draft proposal exchanges, and confidence-building measures. Applying this framework to the 2026 negotiation process reveals two primary findings. First, Qatar’s effectiveness as a mediator hinges on its perceived neutrality and its unique access to both parties’ red lines: the US demand for comprehensive nuclear constraints and Iran’s insistence on sanctions relief and security recognition. Second, the indirect shuttle format, while slower than direct talks, enables both sides to explore compromise without domestic political backlash, transforming the Strait of Hormuz from a flashpoint into a bargaining chip. The paper concludes that Qatar’s mediation, while promising, faces structural limitations inherent to asymmetrical power relations. Ultimately, this framework offers scholars a replicable model for analyzing small-state mediation in great-power conflicts and provides policymakers with insights into the conditions that facilitate or obstruct Gulf diplomacy

This study reviews the challenges and opportunities encountered by Qatar because of the blockade imposed by the neighboring countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt. It endeavors to highlight potential scenarios of the crisis. This paper employs a secondary source of information to achieve the objectives, such as books, articles, reports, and academic research, which were later subjected to thematic analysis. The findings of this research reveal that crisis management was an effective strategy implemented by the Qatari Government. It helped Qatari officials to change and transfer the negative impacts to a positive force. The crisis management strategy encouraged Qatar to rely on their local industries, improve education and media institutes, and use Qatar’s soft power internationally. Although 2017 was a challenging year for Qatar due to the crisis, yet the national economy showed an accelerated growth of 5% in the second half of the same year. 

Following the Arab Spring in 2011, Yemen’s devastating conflicts have deepened even further, leading the country to be the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Despite the international community's multiple attempts to resolve this conflict, the conflict seems to have reached a stalemate. To make matters worse, resolving the conflict is made difficult by the large number of parties involved, internally and externally, and by the complex, dual and fluid nature of the relationships they share. Although the media and international community's focus is directed towards the binary conflict between the Hadi government and Saudi Arabia on one side and Iran and the Houthis on the other, the conflict is greatly multifaceted and far from being binary. This paper critically analyzes and explores other participating actors to comprehend the root causes of the conflict entirely. Although this conflict has been advertised as a proxy war, while others trace back the motivation to sectarianism, this paper argues how this analysis can be misleading and hindering the peace process.

The role of Omani diplomacy is visible in promoting its foreign policy and fulfilling the Sultan’s vision. Since 1970, Oman adopted a different foreign policy in both regional and international arenas characterized by independence, pragmatism, and moderation. This approach was reshaped after Sultan Qaboos bin Said seized rule. His first order of business was to accelerate the steps towards modernizing the Sultanate by adopting a nation-wide social, educational, and cultural reform often referred to as the Omani Renaissance. To translate the Sultan’s vision to reality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has adopted a well-structured mechanism that will enhance diplomatic relations with various countries of the world. This research highlights Oman’s diplomacy strategy post-1970. It focuses on Oman’s foreign policy doctrine and examines the different categories of diplomacy that have been practiced in achieving Oman's foreign policy. The research includes the following types of diplomacy: official, mediation, tolerance and co-existence, economy, cultural, water, poet, aviation, and non-governmental diplomacy. This paper attempts to contribute to academia by providing a comprehensive outlook on Oman’s diplomacy, focusing on this topic from a practical point of view. It presents Omani diplomacy through dialogue and negotiations. It assembles a clear direction for the reader based on information, including personal communication with Omani diplomats. Since 1970, Oman adopted a different foreign policy in both regional and international arenas characterized by independence, pragmatism, and moderation. This approach was reshaped after Sultan Qaboos bin Said seized rule. His first order of business was to accelerate the steps towards modernizing the Sultanate by adopting a nation-wide social, educational, and cultural reform often referred to as the Omani Renaissance. To translate the Sultan's vision to reality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has adopted a well-structured mechanism that will enhance diplomatic relations with various countries of the world. This research highlights Oman's diplomacy strategy post-1970. It focuses on Oman's foreign policy doctrine and examines the different categories of diplomacy that have been practiced in achieving Oman's foreign policy. The research includes the following types of diplomacy: official, mediation, tolerance and co-existence, economy, cultural, water, poet, aviation, and non-governmental diplomacy.