No Intention to Wage War on Iran, Qatar Says: Only Defending Itself
Qatar says it is not involved in warfare against Iran, but is exercising its legitimate right to defend national sovereignty. The statement was delivered by Majed Al-Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday, 3 March, amid rising regional tensions.
The assertion followed reports by several Israeli journalists who cited Western sources claiming that Qatar had carried out an attack on Iran within the last 24 hours. In response to the claim, Al-Ansari denied Doha’s involvement in offensive operations against Tehran. ‘Qatar did not take part in any attack targeting Iran. We are using our right to defend ourselves and deter Iran’s attacks against our country,’ he said on the social media platform X. The statement was published via the social media platform X.
Al-Ansari also urged international media to rely on official Qatari sources when reporting developments, and to refer to credible Qatari sources when covering Qatar.
Regional tensions rose after on 28 February the United States and Israel launched a joint strike on several targets in Iran, including in the capital Tehran. The attack reportedly caused damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties. In response, Iran launched a series of missiles at Israel and at the American military bases scattered across the Middle East. The development has raised concerns among the international community about the potential widening of the conflict in a region that has long been the epicentre of global geopolitics.
Officially, Qatar stressed that it is not in an offensive position against Iran. Doha said the steps taken are solely a form of self-defence in accordance with international law. The statement is crucial amid circulating claims and cross-reports that could further muddy the regional situation. With tensions rising between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran, the position of Gulf states including Qatar will continue to be a focus in Middle East security dynamics going forward.