Qatar PM: Iranian Strikes Hit Civilian and Industrial Areas, Not Just US Interests

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, has strongly rejected Iranian claims that recent missile attacks were not targeting Qatar, stating that evidence on the ground proves otherwise.

The remarks came during a phone call on Wednesday with H.E. Dr Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Araghchi asserted that the missile strikes were aimed at American interests and were not intended to hit Qatar.

HE Shaikh Mohammed “categorically rejected” this claim, highlighting that civilian and residential areas in Qatar were directly affected, including locations near Hamad International Airport and key infrastructure and industrial zones, such as facilities linked to liquefied natural gas production.

Describing the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law, H.E. Shaikh Mohammed noted that the attacks were not limited to missiles but also involved drones and aircraft that had entered Qatari airspace, all of which were intercepted by the country’s armed forces.

He accused Tehran of pursuing an “escalatory approach” that showed no genuine intention for de-escalation, warning that such actions risk drawing neighboring countries into a conflict that is not theirs.

H.E. Shaikh Mohammed called for an immediate halt to attacks on regional states, emphasizing Qatar’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy while asserting the country’s right to respond to any threats to its sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity. He cited Qatar’s inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.