Qatar Condemns Iran's 'Misleading' Claims Regarding Territorial Attacks

Qatar has strongly rejected Iran's account of recent attacks on its territory, accusing Tehran of selectively citing documents to downplay strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure.

The diplomatic dispute erupted after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei cited a Qatari security document submitted to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Baqaei claimed the document confirmed that Iranian strikes against U.S. forces stationed in Qatar were directed solely at American military facilities and that no civilian areas were targeted. He also acknowledged an attack on a gas facility on 18 March, but claimed it had been serving U.S. military operations against Iran.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari hit back on Friday, stating that Iran should refer to formal submissions made to the United Nations rather than selectively quoting from a security risk assessment prepared for operational purposes. Al-Ansari highlighted Qatar's official UN letters, including document S/2026/110, which documented Iranian missiles being launched at civilian, commercial, and residential areas, causing damage and injuring 16 people.

The document shared by Al-Ansari indicated that 83 missiles and 12 drones had been fired at Qatar by the time of the submission, with Qatari air defences intercepting 81 missiles and 11 drones. He also pointed to Qatar’s 20 July UN submission, S/2026/591, which documented further Iranian attacks that injured three people, including a child. Al-Ansari rejected the reliance on the ITU document, noting it was a safety and security risk assessment prepared for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference rather than a comprehensive legal record of the attacks.

Furthermore, Al-Ansari rejected the Iranian characterisation of the Ras Laffan attack as alleged, pointing to Qatar’s UN letter S/2026/207 as an official record. He stressed that the gas facilities belonged to the Qatari people and formed an important part of global energy security. Emphasizing that Qatar was not a party to the conflict, Al-Ansari concluded that attacks on its territory and civilian infrastructure violate international law, and reiterated Qatar's commitment to diplomatic efforts, dialogue, and regional stability.