Qatar PM Warns of Regional ‘Earthquake’ Following US-Israel War on Iran, Calls for Sovereignty

Published On 20 Sep 202620 Sep 2026

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has urged nations in the Middle East to prioritize sovereignty as a foundational element of regional security, warning of “cycles of escalation” in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran. He described the economic fallout from the conflict as a massive “earthquake” whose shockwaves extend far beyond the borders of the Middle East.

The region requires a robust framework in which sovereignty is respected and no state is allowed to pose a threat to another, Sheikh Mohammed stated during his opening remarks at the Qatar Economic Forum’s UN General Assembly-adjacent event in New York City.

Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister, explained that the economic and geopolitical fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran acts like an earthquake, sending shockwaves that challenge fundamental assumptions about global security and stability.

“During the crisis, almost every conversation began with security and de-escalation, then turned to energy supplies, shipping routes, and the continuity of our investments. These were different expressions of the same question: when so much is being disrupted, what can still be relied upon?”

He noted that while Qatar has successfully weathered tests to the foundations of its economy and security, the ongoing regional conflict inevitably presents significant challenges.

“Permanent security cannot be built through arrangements that leave any state permanently exposed to insecurity,” Sheikh Mohammed emphasized. “We must actively address the sources of tensions and build confidence.”

Reporting from New York, Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey noted that this message of upholding sovereignty and seeking stability will undoubtedly be repeated when Gulf leaders meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday during the UN General Assembly.

Qatar’s $38bn domestic investments

The Prime Minister also outlined a significant domestic shift in Qatar’s investment strategy, pledging more than $38 billion in spending on Qatari infrastructure over the next five years to attract private investors and signal the nation’s resilience.

“That’s meant to attract private investors and send a message of Qatar’s resilience,” Saloomey explained, while noting that the Prime Minister acknowledges the ongoing conflict is having an impact on the region.

The UN General Assembly, which runs from Monday to Friday, is expected to place the situation in the Middle East and its global ramifications high on the agenda during speeches and bilateral diplomacy.

Also on Sunday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, told US media in New York that mediation efforts by his government are actively ongoing to restart talks between Tehran and Washington to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

Source link