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Qatar has expelled key Iranian military and security officials on Wednesday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf following recent missile strikes on critical energy infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it had declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian embassy, along with their staff, “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered an official note to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the State, stating that Qatar considers both the military attache and the security attache at the embassy, in addition to the staff of the two attache offices ‘persona non grata’, and requests that they leave the country within a maximum period of (24) hours,” the ministry said.
The decision followed a meeting between Qatar’s protocol chief Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro and Iran’s ambassador to Doha, Ali Salehabadi.
Qatari authorities said the move came “in response to repeated Iranian targeting and the blatant aggression against the State of Qatar, which violated its sovereignty and security, in a flagrant breach of the principles of international law, United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2817, and the principles of good neighbourliness.”
“The continuation of this hostile approach by the Iranian side will be met with additional measures by the State of Qatar, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security, and national interests,” the ministry added.
The diplomatic fallout comes after Iranian missile strikes targeted Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the region’s most critical gas processing hubs.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said emergency teams were deployed to contain fires triggered by the attack, while confirming that QatarEnergy facilities sustained significant damage.
“QatarEnergy confirms that Ras Laffan Industrial City this evening has been the subject of missile attacks. Emergency response teams have deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused. All personnel have been accounted for and no casualties have been reported at this time," the company said.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has warned Iran that tolerance of its attacks on his country and those of neighbouring Gulf states is limited, calling on Tehran to immediately “recalculate” its strategy.
He warned that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have “very significant capacities and capabilities” that could be drawn on should they “choose to do so”, the foreign minister told a news conference early on Thursday that Iran had carefully planned its strategy for striking regional neighbours, despite denials from Tehran’s diplomats.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it had declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian embassy, along with their staff, “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered an official note to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the State, stating that Qatar considers both the military attache and the security attache at the embassy, in addition to the staff of the two attache offices ‘persona non grata’, and requests that they leave the country within a maximum period of (24) hours,” the ministry said.
Retaliation to Iranian attacks
The decision followed a meeting between Qatar’s protocol chief Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro and Iran’s ambassador to Doha, Ali Salehabadi.
Qatari authorities said the move came “in response to repeated Iranian targeting and the blatant aggression against the State of Qatar, which violated its sovereignty and security, in a flagrant breach of the principles of international law, United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2817, and the principles of good neighbourliness.”
“The continuation of this hostile approach by the Iranian side will be met with additional measures by the State of Qatar, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security, and national interests,” the ministry added.
Attack on key gas hub
The diplomatic fallout comes after Iranian missile strikes targeted Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the region’s most critical gas processing hubs.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said emergency teams were deployed to contain fires triggered by the attack, while confirming that QatarEnergy facilities sustained significant damage.
“QatarEnergy confirms that Ras Laffan Industrial City this evening has been the subject of missile attacks. Emergency response teams have deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused. All personnel have been accounted for and no casualties have been reported at this time," the company said.
Gulf states have significant capabilities
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has warned Iran that tolerance of its attacks on his country and those of neighbouring Gulf states is limited, calling on Tehran to immediately “recalculate” its strategy.
He warned that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have “very significant capacities and capabilities” that could be drawn on should they “choose to do so”, the foreign minister told a news conference early on Thursday that Iran had carefully planned its strategy for striking regional neighbours, despite denials from Tehran’s diplomats.
