Iran seeking brotherly ties with Qatar ‘not confrontation’: Pezeshkian
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian assured Doha that Tehran’s retaliatory air strike on the American Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar was not aimed at starting a neighborly confrontation, expressing goodwill toward the Qatari government and people.
In a phone call with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, President Pezeshkian reaffirmed his country’s commitment to fostering constructive, friendly, and brotherly relations with Doha.
“I reached out to you at the earliest opportunity to convey that yesterday’s incident was merely a reaction to the direct and overt involvement of the United States in the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iranian territory,” Pezeshkian emphasized.
The Iranian president also expressed his sincere gratitude toward Sheikh Tamim for all his efforts to stop the war and for the support, solidarity, and cooperation with Iranians.
The Emir, in response, emphasized that Qatar has made significant efforts, both publicly and privately, to keep the region safe from the Zionist regime’s provocations, including its aggression against Iranian territory.
Sheikh Tamim also pointed out that the US airbase in Qatar has not been and will not be used for attacks against Iran, adding that he does not hide the fact that what happened on Monday was a significant shock for him and the people of Qatar.
He noted, “At the same time, while appreciating your call and sympathy, I emphasize that we in Qatar see a larger picture and a broader horizon. The Qatari people have expressed their solidarity with their brothers in Iran during the military aggression of the Zionist regime, and we are thinking about deepening and expanding our relations in the future.”
Pezeshkian’s sentiments toward Qatar were echoed by his Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a phone conversation with his Qatari counterpart on Tuesday.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday morning, Araghchi praised the country’s military forces for their steadfast defense against Israel’s war of aggression as a cease-fire in 12 days of fighting reportedly came into effect on Tuesday morning.