CAIRO: US President Joe Biden called Qatar`s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to thank him for Doha`s mediation that resulted in the release of a number of Americans from Iran, the Amiri Diwan and the White House said on Tuesday.

Last month, with Doha`s mediation, Iran freed five Americans as part of a prisoner swap for five Iranians held in the United States and the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds, marking a rare deal between the longtime antagonists.

Qatar, a wealthy Gulf Arab state with diplomatic ambitions, has pressed both Washington and Tehran to engage in more talks and reach `understandings, sources said last month.

`During the call, the strategic relations between the two countries and aspects of supporting and strengthening them in various fields were reviewed,` the Amiri Diwan, or Emir`s office, said in a statement.

The White House said the two leaders `discussed their commitment to deepen defence and security cooperation in the region.` Last year, Biden designated Qatar as a major non-Nato ally of the United States, fulfilling an earlier promise that he had made to them.

The designation is granted by the United States to close, non-Nato allies that have strategic working relationships with the US military.-Reuters