Iranian president talks with Qatari emir over attacks on US air base

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday stressed that his country's missile attack against the US air base in Qatar in no way means a confrontation between Tehran and Doha.

He made the remarks in a phone call with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as a goodwill gesture to mollify the Qatari side following the Iranian military action, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

"I contacted you at the earliest opportunity to say that yesterday's incident was merely a reaction to the US direct and open participation in Israel's aggression against Iranian territory and in no way constitutes a confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and its friend, brother, and neighbor, Qatar," said the president.

He added that the Iranian government and people were fully aware of Qatar's "friendly and brotherly" intentions and stances towards themselves and sincerely appreciated the supports, sympathies and companionship of the Arab state's government and people, especially during tough times.

Pezeshkian said Iran sought to expand its "constructive, friendly and brotherly" relations with Qatar, expressing hope that he would soon meet the Qatari emir in Doha and discuss with him the improvement of bilateral ties.

According to the statement, Qatar's emir described the phone talk as a "conversation with a close friend," with whom he had a "very deep and friendly" relationship, stressing that his country had made considerable efforts to keep the region away from Israel's "warmongering," and especially its "aggression" against Iranian territory.

He emphasized that the US air base in Qatar had not been used for attacking Iran and would not be employed to that end in the future.

A separate report by Qatar News Agency said Sheikh Tamim also strongly condemned the Iranian missile strike, calling it a "blatant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as a breach of international law and the UN Charter.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said on Monday it had targeted US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles in response to the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The attack was launched two days after US President Donald Trump announced the completion of his country's attack on the three Iranian nuclear sites of Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.