Qatar’s Doha Forum has come under pressure for giving Iran the opportunity to promote its goals, JPost reported. 

The goals include excoriating US policy. In gathering together Iran and Turkey’s foreign ministers, Qatari leaders, US Congressional Democrats, and a plethora of other voices, the forum provided a place for discussions about the Middle East as the region shifts from the ISIS threat to an US-Iranian confrontation.

With 800 participants from 70 countries and 100 speakers, the Forum was important and it was a symbolic gathering that did not include high level US voices. Iran sought to exploit the Forum. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said sanctions wouldn’t work and sought to portray Iran as a responsible country and victim of US policy. He also boasted about evading sanctions.