Qatar says to take all diplomatic, legal means to respond to Iranian attack on US base
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says attack was self-defense, reiterates commitment to good neighborhood policy with Qatar
ISTANBUL
Qatar’s prime minister said Tuesday that his country will take all diplomatic and legal measures to respond to Iran’s missile attack on a US base on its soil.
“We made the necessary contacts that led to the US President's announcement of a ceasefire, and we will take all diplomatic and legal measures in response to the Iranian attack,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a press conference in Doha with his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam.
Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, in a dramatic escalation in tensions following the US targeting of three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed said the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states will hold an extraordinary meeting in Doha on Tuesday to discuss the Iranian missile attack on the Qatari territory.
“Israel's irresponsible actions only generate instability in the region, and our armed forces have proven to everyone Qatar's ability to defend itself, its citizens, and its residents,” he added.
“We hope that Israel doesn’t take advantage of the ceasefire with Iran to continue its war in Gaza,” the premier said, hinting at a possible return to negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire within two days.
Qatar summoned Iranian Ambassador Ali Abadi early Tuesday to convey Doha’s strong condemnation of Iran’s violation of its sovereignty and airspace.
Qatar also sent a letter to the UN Security Council stressing that it “reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with the Charter and international law.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, for his part, said that the attack came “in exercise of our self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter,” in response to the US bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran.
“This act of self-defense had nothing to do with our friendly neighbor Qatar, as we enjoy excellent and deeply rooted relationships,” Baghaei said.
The spokesman stressed full commitment to “good neighborhood policy with respect to the State of Qatar and other neighboring countries.”
US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday after 12 days of aerial combat between the two arch-foes.
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