Qatar minister says Gulf countries are not enemies of Iran and warns that attacks on neighbours will only increase instability in the region
New Delhi: Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has asked all sides in the Middle East conflict to reduce tensions and choose diplomacy instead of military action. In an interview, he said that continuing attacks in the region will only make the situation worse.
Al-Khulaifi urged both Iran and the United States to return to negotiations and find a peaceful solution through dialogue. He said diplomacy has always been the best way to resolve conflicts and prevent the situation from turning into a larger war.
Gulf countries are not enemies of Iran
During the interview with Al Jazeera, the Qatari minister said that countries in the region should not be treated as enemies by Iran. According to him, Gulf nations are not hostile toward Iran and should not become targets in the conflict.
He said attacks by Iran on neighbouring countries bring “benefit for no one” and only increase tensions in the Middle East. Such actions could also damage relations between countries in the region and make the conflict even more serious.
Concerns over recent attacks in the Gulf
The minister’s comments come at a time when tensions in the Gulf region have increased sharply. Reports say Iran recently launched missile and drone attacks on several countries in the region after tensions rose with the United States and Israel.
These attacks reportedly included hundreds of drones and missiles. Some of them caused casualties, damaged infrastructure and affected energy facilities in the region.
The situation has created serious concern among Gulf countries, especially those that are not directly part of the conflict but are still facing the impact of these attacks.
Qatar and Oman cannot mediate during attacks
Al-Khulaifi also spoke about the role of regional countries in peace negotiations. In the past, Qatar and Oman have played an important role as mediators in talks between Iran and Western countries.
However, he said it becomes difficult to act as mediators when those countries themselves are under threat. According to him, Qatar and Oman cannot properly help in peace talks if they are also facing attacks.
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He explained that successful mediation requires trust, safety and stability. Without these conditions, it becomes very hard to bring different sides together for negotiations.
Growing tensions across the Middle East
The current situation is considered one of the most tense periods in the Middle East in recent years. The conflict increased after the United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iranian targets earlier in 2026.
After those strikes, Iran reportedly responded by launching missile and drone attacks in different parts of the region. These developments have raised fears that the conflict could expand into a larger regional war.
The crisis has also affected global markets. Rising tensions have pushed up energy prices and created uncertainty in important international shipping routes.
Concerns over the Strait of Hormuz
One of the biggest concerns in this conflict is the safety of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is very important because a large portion of the world’s oil supply passes through it.
If shipping in this area is disrupted, it could have a major impact on global energy supplies and the world economy.
Qatar supports dialogue and regional stability
Qatar has often tried to maintain communication with different sides in regional conflicts. The country has previously helped mediate talks between Iran and Western nations.
Al-Khulaifi warned that continued attacks on Gulf countries could weaken the very nations that could help mediate peace. He urged all sides to avoid further escalation and focus on dialogue instead.
He concluded by saying that diplomacy, negotiations and cooperation are the only realistic ways to bring stability to the Middle East. He also expressed hope that Iran and the United States will eventually return to the negotiating table to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region.
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