'Stop Attacks Immediately': Qatar Accuses Iran Of Targeting Civilian Areas, Calls For Diplomacy

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Last Updated:March 16, 2026, 20:13 IST

Iran has launched strikes on US-linked sites and some civilian targets in Gulf countries since Washington and Israel began air attacks on Iranian territory on February 28.

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Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha, Qatar, March 1, 2026. (Credits: Reuters) Reuters)

Qatar on Tuesday accused Iran of launching attacks on civilian locations, including residential neighbourhoods and Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Speaking to the reporters, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the strikes had hit or attempted to hit civilian infrastructure, contradicting Tehran’s repeated claims that it is not targeting non-military sites.

The Qatari official stated that Iranian attacks had affected areas used by civilians, including housing zones and the country’s main international airport, raising concerns about the safety of people and key infrastructure.

“Iran must stop the attacks immediately so that a diplomatic solution to the crisis can be found," he said.

“Iran is attacking Gulf countries without any reason and must stop its attacks because we are outside the conflict," added the spokesperson.

Iran has been carrying out attacks on US-linked assets and civilian locations in Gulf countries since the United States and Israel began air strikes on Iranian territory on February 28, according to officials and regional reports.

More than 1,400 people have been killed, while both military and civilian infrastructure have suffered significant damage in Iran due to the ongoing conflict. Hospitals, schools, airports and seaports are among the facilities reported to have been affected.

At the same time, Tehran has launched waves of drones and missiles towards Israel, with the strikes reportedly killing at least 15 people there.

Amid the rising violence, Qatar and other Gulf nations have called on Iran to stop the attacks. Qatar’s ambassador to the United Nations last week described the strikes as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, urging restraint to prevent further escalation.

During a press briefing on Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said authorities were closely monitoring statements made in Iranian media suggesting that economic and civilian sites could be targeted. He said Doha takes such remarks seriously.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have denied some of the accusations made by Gulf countries regarding the attacks.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani Baghaei called on foreign governments to investigate the claims and questioned the allegations made against Tehran.

“They have copied a number of weapons used by Iran. Some people alleged that Iranian drones could reach the United States’s western coast. I can assure you that Iranian drones cannot cover those long distances," he said during a news conference.

Baghaei also dismissed the accusations as baseless, saying the claims were part of an attempt to justify a staged incident.

He said all these “false accusations" were intended to prepare the ground for a “false-flag operation they intend to carry out."

First Published:

March 16, 2026, 20:13 IST

News world 'Stop Attacks Immediately': Qatar Accuses Iran Of Targeting Civilian Areas, Calls For Diplomacy

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