Qatar emir warns Gulf is in one of its most dangerous phases amid Iran war

Qatar's emir has told the United Nations General Assembly that the Gulf is passing through what he described as one of its most dangerous phases. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said the regional crisis linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran could still be resolved through diplomacy. He also said Qatar was working to help address the conflict while defending its own territory and sovereignty.

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In remarks delivered on Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim said years of delayed diplomacy had contributed to the war on Iran. He said the crisis could be eased by reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation, which he described as a way to avert war. He also called for a regional system of collective security, saying that without such a framework a war could erupt.

The emir reaffirmed Qatar's role as a trusted mediator and said diplomacy would be the path to a lasting solution that ensured security for the wider region, including Iran. He said the Gulf crisis was the cumulative result of years of postponing diplomatic resolutions. He also said Qatar remained steadfast in defending its territory and sovereignty while seeking to reduce tensions through peaceful means.

The comments come against the backdrop of wider regional instability that has extended beyond Iran. Sheikh Tamim criticised Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, saying the conflict had expanded to neighbouring countries and affected the security of the region as a whole. He said there could be no talk of a just international order while Palestine remained in its plight, and described what has happened in Gaza as genocide in every sense of the word.

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He also used the speech to express support for Lebanon, Sudan and Libya, and called for respect for state sovereignty. On Yemen, he said Qatar supported United Nations efforts toward a comprehensive political settlement based on the outcomes of the national dialogue facilitated by the United Nations. Those remarks placed the Gulf warning within a broader appeal for political solutions across several regional crises.

What remains unclear is whether the call for a reopened Strait of Hormuz or a collective security system will gain traction among regional powers. The speech did not announce any new diplomatic initiative, but it underlined Qatar's effort to present itself as a mediator at a time of heightened tension. The next developments to watch are any response from other Gulf states, Iran, Israel and the wider international community.

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