DOHA, April 14 (Reuters) - There have been no discussions between Qatar and Iran over the payment of funds to stop Iranian attacks on Qatar and any suggestions that such discussions took place are untrue, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"There is a high level of coordination with Pakistan and the Unites States, our demands are being raised through these channels," Majed Al-Ansari said in a media briefing.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills; Editing by Alison Williams)

ANKARA, April 14 (Reuters) - A teenager opened fire at a high school in Turkey's southeastern province of Sanliurfa on Tuesday, wounding at least 16 people, including students and teachers, before killing himself, Governor Hasan Sildak said.

The assailant, a 19-year-old former student, used a shotgun in the attack in the Siverek district. The wounded were taken to hospital, with five later transferred to facilities in Sanliurfa city centre for further treatment, Sildak said.

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will chair a video conference in Paris on Friday for countries that are willing to contribute to the defensive multilateral mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when security conditions permit, the French presidency said on Tuesday.

Senior diplomats will hold a video call on Wednesday ahead of the leaders meeting, two European diplomats said.

(Reporting by Michel Rose and John Irish; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Dominique Vidalon)

France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the French president's office said.

President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair the meeting to discuss a plan to "restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when security conditions allow", the Elysee said on Tuesday.

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday she was "very frustrated and angry" over what she said was the United States' failure to have a clear exit plan or objectives for the war in Iran, according to the Mirror newspaper.

"This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the U.S. went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve," Reeves told the newspaper.

Washington's decision to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is sending tremors through global energy markets, raising fears of a fresh oil shock by threatening supplies to Asia.

Iran had continued to pump crude to Asia since the start of the Middle East war, partly shielded by its elusive "dark fleet".

Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally flows through the vital waterway. In recent weeks, Iran has already tightened the screws, sharply slowing maritime traffic and reportedly charging transit fees.

As the clock ticked down to US President Donald Trump's deadline to destroy Iran's civilisation last week, hope emerged from an unlikely corner, with Pakistan's prime minister first seeking -- and within hours securing -- a two-week ceasefire between the warring sides.

Now, with a round of talks concluded in Islamabad and frantic negotiations underway to secure a second go, Pakistan is basking in its new role as a regional peacemaker, analysts say.

By Florence Tan and Mariko Katsumura

SINGAPORE/TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) - A third Iran-linked tanker was entering the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday on the first full day of the U.S. blockade L6N40X074 on vessels calling at Iranian ports, shipping data showed.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal L1N40X07G.

As the three vessels transiting the strait were not heading to Iranian ports, they are not covered by the blockade.

MOSCOW, April 14 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for talks on the wars in Ukraine and Iran as well as bilateral ties.

Lavrov was shown on Russian state television arriving in Beijing where is expected to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"A thorough exchange of views is expected on a number of 'hot topics' and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Botswana has signed energy and mining exploration agreements with Oman as it seeks to deepen economic ties with the sultanate, the presidency said.

The Southern Africa nation has been courting Gulf states as it seeks to diversify an economy heavily reliant on diamonds, of which it is the world's leading producer by value.

President Duma Boko and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq agreed to develop a 500-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant with battery storage, the presidency said on Monday.