Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has called on regional nations to respect state sovereignty as an essential requirement for Middle Eastern stability, warning against destructive cycles of escalation following the “earthquake” triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Speaking on Sunday at the opening of a Qatar Economic Forum event held alongside the UN General Assembly in New York City, he said the region requires a cooperative framework where national sovereignty is upheld, and no country poses a threat to another.
The prime minister described the economic consequences of the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran as an “earthquake” whose shock waves extend far beyond Middle Eastern borders, upending long-held assumptions regarding regional security and economic predictability.
He noted that during the ongoing crisis, diplomatic exchanges consistently opened with immediate security concerns before turning to critical issues such as energy supplies, maritime shipping lanes, and long-term investments, reports Al Jazeera.
Acknowledging that the military confrontation is impacting the broader region, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that Qatar has withstood tests to the core foundations of its economy and national security.
However, the prime minister emphasized that lasting security cannot be constructed through mechanisms that leave any nation permanently vulnerable, calling on states to address the root causes of regional tension and foster mutual confidence.
To demonstrate economic resilience and encourage private investment, he detailed a strategic shift in domestic planning, committing more than $38b to Qatari infrastructure projects over the next five years.
Reporting from New York, Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey noted that this perspective will likely be reinforced when Gulf leaders confer with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday during the UN General Assembly session, which runs from Monday to Friday with Middle Eastern diplomacy taking precedence.
In concurrent diplomatic developments, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari informed US media in New York on Sunday that mediation by Doha remains active to facilitate a restart of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at concluding the war.
