Qatar Lifts Maritime Suspension After One-Week Pause

Qatar’s Transport Ministry said Sunday that maritime navigation activities can now resume normally for all types of vessels and ships. The ministry posted the statement on X, reversing a June 29 advisory that had urged the temporary suspension of sailing and fishing boats until further notice. Commercial shipping had remained exempt from that earlier restriction.

” Qatar did not provide additional details on the incident or the decision to lift the suspension.

The announcement comes amid ongoing regional developments, including reports of Israeli military activity in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as public mourning ceremonies in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev, attending the Tehran ceremonies, stated that Iran possesses a “backup weapon” in the Bab al-Mandeb strait and warned that shipping through the chokepoint could be disrupted in a broader conflict.

>"We have more from Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev, who is in Tehran for Khamenei’s funeral. " Iran’s foreign minister also met separately with delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah in Tehran ahead of the funeral proceedings.