Doha, March 11
Qatar has said it cannot act as a mediator with Iran while it remains under attack from Tehran.
Speaking to the Qatari-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi said regional mediation efforts were not possible under current circumstances.
He said both Qatar and Oman had faced attacks despite their efforts to build diplomatic bridges between Iran and Western countries.
“We will not be able to fulfil that role while under attack, and that is something the Iranians need to understand,” al-Khulaifi said. He added that countries in the region were not enemies of Iran and urged Tehran to recognise that.
Earlier on Wednesday, Qatar warned residents of a possible Iranian strike. An Associated Press journalist in the capital Doha reported hearing explosions as air defence systems intercepted incoming fire.
PTI
