Qatar Says Regional States Are Not Iran’s Enemy, Urges De‑Escalation in Middle East Conflict

Gulf Times

Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al‑Khulaifi.

Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al‑Khulaifi, has publicly stressed that countries in the Gulf and wider Middle East are not adversaries of the Islamic Republic of Iran, even as regional tensions continue to escalate. His remarks come amid ongoing hostilities following renewed conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Al‑Khulaifi called for urgent de‑escalation of hostilities in the region and urged both Tehran and Washington to return to diplomatic negotiations. He warned that ongoing attacks between regional actors benefit no party and risk dragging neighbouring states deeper into conflict.

“The regional countries are not an enemy of Iran, and the Iranians are not understanding that idea,” the minister said, stressing that misunderstandings have contributed to rising tensions. He criticised recent attacks on Qatar and other Gulf states, which he described as unjustified and harmful to regional stability and economic security.

Al‑Khulaifi also stated that Qatar and other prospective mediators such as Oman cannot effectively play a bridging role between Iran and Western nations while they themselves remain under attack. “We will not be able to fulfil that role under attack, and that’s something the Iranians need to understand,” he said.

Officials in Doha reiterated that Qatar remains deeply concerned about the impact of military escalation on civilian infrastructure, energy supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, and overall regional security. They emphasised that lasting peace depends on returning to diplomacy rather than continued aggression.
 


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