Doha, March 11, 2026:
Qatar has said it cannot play a mediating role on behalf of Iran while it is itself under attack, signaling growing tensions in the region amid the ongoing conflict.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, made it clear that Doha cannot continue mediation efforts under the current circumstances.
Mediation Role Under Pressure
Al-Khulaifi said both Qatar and Oman have long worked to build a diplomatic “bridge” between Iran and Western countries. However, he noted that despite these efforts, both nations have also faced attacks.
“We cannot play the role of mediator while we ourselves are under attack. Iran must understand this,” he said.
Regional Frustration Growing
The Qatari minister added that countries in the region are not enemies of Iran, but Tehran appears to be misunderstanding that reality.
His remarks come as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries.
