Qatar rejects Iran claim that strikes only targeted US interests
Doha: Qatar has rejected Iranian assertions that missile attacks on the country were directed only at US interests, saying official documents submitted to the United Nations show that civilian, commercial and residential areas were struck. Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Qatar relied on its formal…
Doha: The Qatari government has firmly rejected Iran's claims that missile strikes on their country were exclusively targeting US interests. Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, a senior adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that official documents submitted to the United Nations reveal civilian, commercial, and residential areas were struck.
He urged Iran to refer to these records instead of selectively citing a security risk assessment meant for operational purposes. Two letters from Qatar, dated March 1, 2026, under reference S/2026/110, documented attacks on civilian, commercial, and residential areas, causing injuries to 16 people, including a child. A further letter dated July 20 recorded additional attacks that injured three individuals.
The Iranian document cited was a risk assessment for the International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference, not a comprehensive record of events or a legal assessment. The same document acknowledged direct attacks inside Qatar, including an assault on Ras Laffan gas facilities on March 18, the temporary closure of Qatari airspace, and the disruption of civilian life.
Dr. Al Ansari stressed that the Qatari armed forces' interception of Iranian missiles and drones does not diminish the severity of the attacks or absolve those responsible. He criticized the term "alleged" when describing the Ras Laffan attack, stating that it had been formally documented in Qatar's letter S/2026/207. Qatar maintains it is not a party to the conflict and considers attacks on its territory and civilian infrastructure unjustifiable.
The Qatari Prime Minister had previously rejected Iran's explanation, emphasizing that the strikes included civilian and residential areas, critical infrastructure like liquefied natural gas facilities, and drones that entered Qatari airspace. He called for an immediate halt to attacks on countries seeking to remain neutral in the conflict.
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