Doha reaffirms solidarity with Azerbaijan, calls for de-escalation in Middle East

Qatar signalled its willingness to collaborate with partners to ease Middle East tensions and pursue diplomatic solutions to bolster regional stability, Sara bint Ahmed Al Mohannadi, chargé d'affaires of Qatar's mission to the EU and NATO, stated.

She made the remarks during a NATO Council meeting with Istanbul Cooperation Initiative states in Brussels, chaired by NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska, and welcomed NATO's stance condemning Iranian attacks while showing solidarity with Qatar, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Al Mohannadi noted that Doha had warned of escalation risks since the Gaza conflict began, which could spark wider regional tensions.

She added that since February 28, Qatar has experienced "shocking and unexpected" attacks by Iran, undermining trust due to the countries’ neighbourhood ties, and emphasised that the strikes targeted not only military sites but also critical infrastructure, including energy facilities.

The Qatari diplomat also cautioned that such actions endanger global energy supplies via the Strait of Hormuz and disrupt international supply chains, including aviation, potentially causing significant economic impacts.

Qatar strongly condemned Iran's use of ballistic missiles and drones, describing it as a severe violation of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation.

Additionally, Al Mohannadi expressed Qatar's solidarity with numerous countries in the region and beyond, including Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Türkiye, and Cyprus, in defending their sovereignty and security. 

She reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to cooperating with partners to reduce tensions, halt hostilities, and return to diplomatic measures aimed at strengthening regional stability.

By Jeyhun Aghazada