Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stressed on Tuesday that Iran needed to halt its attacks before any talks can be held.
Speaking at a press conference in Doha, he said Qatar is being attacked daily by Iran, “so we cannot speak of any talks with it before it ceases its assaults.”
Contacts are ongoing with all parties to ensure an end to the conflict, he added, while accusing Iran of attacking civilian infrastructure in Qatar.
Moreover, he described as a “dangerous precedent” Iran’s attacks on energy facilities, saying they will cause economic losses in the region and have global consequences.
“The best solution lies in ending attacks on our energy facilities,” al-Ansari said in response to whether escorting ships in the Hormuz Strait was a viable option.
He revealed that since the eruption of the war, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had held only one telephone call with Iran’s foreign minister.
However, channels of contact with Tehran have not been completely severed, al-Ansari said. Doha is now focusing on de-escalation and ending the attacks.
Furthermore, he hoped that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s apology to Gulf countries over the attacks would have actually meant that they would end.
Instead, the attacks continued, rendering the apology meaningless, al-Ansari stressed.
“Any attack on Qatar will be handled in the appropriate manner,” he went on to say. “Confronting the Iranian aggression has become a priority given its impact on Qatar’s and the global economy.”
Al-Ansari said the armed forces have succeeded in defending the nation and repelling rocket and drone attacks that have targeted vital and civilian installations.
Qatar still believes in diplomacy and welcomes any role that can end the war, he continued. “Attacks against Qatar and its people are unacceptable. Leaders are working tirelessly to stop the assaults.”
Earlier, the Defense Ministry said the armed forces repelled a rocket attack.
On Monday, Doha confronted 17 ballistic missile and six drone attacks.
