ISTANBUL, March 19 — Qatar declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian Embassy in Doha “persona non grata” on Wednesday and asked them to leave the country within 24 hours.
Anadolu Ajansi reported that the Foreign Ministry in a statement said the decision was taken “in light of the repeated Iranian targeting and brutal aggression” on Qatar’s sovereignty and security.
It said the action is a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, Security Council Resolution No. 2817 and the rules of good neighbourliness.
The ministry warned that if Iran continues this hostile approach, Qatar will take further measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and national interests.
“Qatar reserves its right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, in accordance with international law,” it said.
The decision, which also covers staff working in the two attaches’ offices, came after an Iranian missile attack on the Ras Laffan gas production site in Qatar.
Regional escalations continued to rage since Israel and the US have launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
Earlier, QatarEnegy reported a missile attack on Wednesday evening on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar’s main site for the production of liquefied natural gas.
“Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused,” the company said in a statement, Anadolu Ajansi reported. No casualties were reported.
Qatari Foreign Ministry denounced the brutal targeting of the site as a "direct threat" to its national security as well as regional stability.
“This attack constitutes a dangerous escalation, a blatant violation of the state's sovereignty, and a direct threat to its national security and the stability of the region,” the ministry said in a statement.
Doha said despite its neutrality in the conflict and its commitment to avoiding any escalation, Iran continues to target Qatar and neighbouring countries “in an irresponsible manner that undermines regional security and threatens international peace".
Qatar stressed that it has repeatedly called for avoiding attacks on civilian and energy facilities, including those inside Iran, in order to preserve the resources of the region's peoples and maintain international peace and security.
“Iran, however, continues its escalatory policies, which are pushing the region toward the brink and dragging countries not party to this crisis into the conflict,” it warned.
Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi strongly condemned the attack, saying the attack represents a grave violation of international law and an unacceptable escalation that threatens regional security and stability.
He warned that targeting oil and energy infrastructure is unacceptable and poses a direct threat to regional and global energy supplies.
Albudaiwi also called on the international community to act to halt what he described as repeated Iranian attacks that undermine regional and international peace.
