Qatar issued a stark warning on Tuesday regarding the grave consequences of any military escalation between the United States and Iran. The statement follows threats from Washington of potential strikes in response to the Iranian government’s crackdown on widespread protests.
“We know that any escalation… would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond, and therefore we want to avoid that as much as possible,” stated Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, during a press conference in Doha.
Tensions have been high since June, when Iran targeted the Al Udeid military base in Qatar, which hosts US forces, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The unprecedented attack led to a swift, Doha-mediated truce between Washington and Tehran.
The current friction stems from mass protests that have erupted across Iran since Thursday, posing a significant challenge to the country’s leadership. On Monday, the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump is considering air strikes to deter the government’s violent suppression of demonstrators.
Rights organizations report a rising number of fatalities, though a near-total internet shutdown has made confirming figures difficult. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) has confirmed that 648 people have been killed during the protests, including nine minors. The group warned the actual number is likely much higher, with some estimates exceeding 6,000 killed.
In response to US threats, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared that Iran would retaliate, calling US military and shipping assets “legitimate targets” in remarks broadcast on state television.
Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Qatari officials maintain that diplomacy is still viable. “We are still at a state right now where we believe that the diplomatic resolution can come out of this,” Ansari said, noting that Washington has also acknowledged a “far different tone” from Iran in private discussions.
“We are involved in talking to all parties, obviously with our neighbours and our partners in theregion to find a diplomatic solution,” he added.
