WASHINGTON, United States, May 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Top US diplomat Marco Rubio met Saturday with the leader of Mideast ally Qatar, the State Department said, highlighting the Gulf state's role as a key intermediary for Washington as it awaited Tehran's response on a peace proposal.

"The Secretary expressed appreciation for Qatar's partnership on a range of issues," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement on the meeting between Rubio and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also Qatar's foreign minister.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed US support for Qatar's defense, and the importance of continued close coordination to deter threats and promote stability and security across the Middle East."