Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed said a US-Iran hotline set up during talks in
Switzerland is essential to prevent “spoilers” from blocking a reopening of the
Strait of Hormuz by countering misinformation and coordinating communications
during sea-mine clearance. He warned actors have been sending spoofed shipping
messages threatening vessels with claims such as being from the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps, and said the hotline will let ships verify threats
with Iranian authorities to transit safely. Qatar has begun preparing tankers
and expects to restore normal LNG production within weeks after the parties
signed a memorandum of understanding last week.
