Qatar firmly rejects Iranian claim that it targeted only US interests, says Prime Minister

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani rejected Iranian claims that recent missile attacks were not aimed at Qatar, saying the evidence on the ground showed otherwise.

This came during a phone call he received on Wednesday from Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Abbas Araghchi.

Araghchi said the missile strikes were directed at American interests and were not intended to target the Gulf state. Sheikh Mohammed ‘categorically rejected’ that assertion, citing the civilian and residential areas inside the country struck by the attacks.

He said the areas affected included the vicinity of Hamad International Airport, as well as vital infrastructure and industrial zones, including facilities linked to liquefied natural gas production.

Sheikh Mohammed described the strikes as a ‘flagrant violation’ of Qatar’s sovereignty and of international law. He added that the attacks were not limited to missiles, but were ongoing through drones, as well as aircraft that had entered Qatari airspace and were intercepted by the country’s armed forces.

He added that the Iranian actions reflected ‘an escalatory approach’ and did not indicate any genuine desire for de-escalation or resolution. He accused Tehran of seeking to harm its neighbors and draw them into a war ‘that is not theirs.’

Sheikh Mohammed called for an immediate halt to attacks on regional states that have sought to remain outside the conflict, urging all sides to prioritize the broader interests of their people.

He stressed that Qatar has consistently favored dialogue and diplomacy, but would respond to any violation of its sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity. He said such attacks could not go unanswered, citing the country’s inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. 

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