Qatar’s prime minister has lashed out at Iran for its “dangerous miscalculation” of retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries, describing a sense of “betrayal” among Tehran’s neighbours.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was speaking after Qatar had suffered several missile and drone attacks by the Tehran regime along with our countries across the Middle East. A retaliation to US-Israeli strikes, which has sparked an ongoing 10-day conflict in the region.
Speaking to Sky News, he said the country was in a “very difficult period” and that Doha was feeling a “big sense of betrayal” following Iran’s actions.
“Just an hour after the start of the war, Qatar and other Gulf countries have been attacked. We made clear that we were not going to take part in any wars against our neighbours.”
Qatar is just one of many countries to have been attacked by Iranian forces, with hundreds of missiles and drones launched at targets in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, leaving thousands stranded abroad and damaging civilian targets, including hotels and airports.
“All the attacks on the Gulf countries – we never expected this from our neighbour,” al-Thani said. “We have always tried to preserve a good relationship with Iran, but the justifications and pretexts they are using are completely rejected.”
He said the “miscalculation by the Iranians to attack Gulf countries has destroyed everything”, but that Doha will “continue to seek de-escalation” – and also called on the US to reduce tensions in the region.
Last week, loud blasts were heard in Doha as Tehran launched several attacks on the Qatari capital. Qatar’s foreign ministry said at the time that Iran would “pay a price” for the attacks. Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and Shahed drones have all been shot down in Qatari airspace over the past week.
Turkey became the first Nato member to come under attack last week, when Nato air and missile defences sprang into action to shoot down a ballistic missile travelling in the direction of Turkey. A Turkish official later said the missile had been aimed at an unspecified military base in Cyprus – which hosts British bases – and had veered off course.
The attacks across the region have had a severely destabilising impact on the global economy, with crude oil prices surging past $115 (£86.47) a barrel on Monday as fuel shortages sparked rationing and violence in import-dependent countries in South Asia.
In Sialkot, Pakistan, a man opened fire at a petrol station on Saturday after workers refused to fill jerry cans during panic buying, killing one worker and critically injuring two others. Separately, a man was killed in Karachi in another fuel queue altercation
In Bangladesh, authorities on Monday brought forward university Eid holidays as an emergency measure to cut electricity use and ease fuel pressure after Qatar suspended LNG deliveries.
