Miami: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday to discuss U.S. support for Qatar's defense and ongoing coordination to promote stability and security across the Middle East. According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio shared on the U.S. social media platform X that his meeting with the Qatari premier focused on 'U.S. support for Qatar's defense.' He emphasized the significance of the partnership between Washington and Doha in deterring threats and promoting stability in the Middle East. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott noted that Rubio expressed appreciation for Qatar's partnership on various issues and highlighted the importance of close cooperation to deter regional threats. The Qatari Foreign Ministry issued a statement on X, in which Sheikh Mohammed urged all parties to engage with Pakistan-led mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. He stressed the necessity of addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful dialogue to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The meeting occurred amid diplomatic efforts concerning Iran and regional security. Earlier on Saturday, a report from Axios revealed that Rubio and White House Envoy Steve Witkoff met the Qatari premier in Miami. This meeting was part of efforts to secure an agreement to end the war in Iran. The report indicated that Qatar has been playing a significant mediating role between the U.S. and Iran, despite Pakistan being the official mediator since the war's inception. The White House reportedly views Qatar as particularly effective in negotiations with Iran. Sheikh Mohammed also met with Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Friday. Initially planning to return directly to Doha, he altered his itinerary to travel to Florida, where he engaged with the Saudi foreign minister regarding the mediation efforts. The discussions in Miami focused on finalizing a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict.