Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, marking the first direct contact between the two sides since Iranian missile and drone attacks repeatedly struck areas inside

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, marking the first direct contact between the two sides since Iranian missile and drone attacks repeatedly struck areas inside Qatar. During the call, Sheikh Mohammed firmly rejected Iran’s claim that its forces targeted only US assets in Qatar. He said the strikes hit civilian and residential areas, including near Hamad International Airport, as well as vital infrastructure and LNG facilities. The Qatari government described the attacks as a blatant violation of sovereignty and international law. Sheikh Mohammed accused Tehran of escalating tensions and attempting to drag neighbouring states into a war not of their choosing. He called for an immediate halt to attacks on states that have sought to remain outside the conflict. While reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to diplomacy, he warned that any aggression affecting its sovereignty would not go unanswered. Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran had sought to avoid war through diplomacy but was forced to retaliate after US-Israeli strikes. He added that Iran respects the sovereignty of its neighbours and believes regional security must be achieved collectively. Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan reports from Doha. 5 3 2026 Credit Al jazzera