'You Could Walk Right Across The Border To Iran': Trump's Remark To Qatar's Emir Raises Eyebrows

Last Updated:June 16, 2026, 22:27 IST

Trump highlighted the growing economic partnership between the two countries, saying Qatari investment in the United States would continue to expand.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, where an off-the-cuff remark about Iran drew attention online.

During the meeting, Trump highlighted Qatar’s proximity to Iran and remarked, “Qatar is the closest to Iran, physically. With other countries, I noticed they had to travel about 45 minutes to get there. With you, you could walk right across the border."

The comment quickly sparked discussion because Qatar and Iran do not share a land border. The two countries are separated by the Persian Gulf, although they maintain close diplomatic ties and jointly share the world’s largest natural gas reserve, the South Pars/North Dome field.

The meeting focused on regional security, the recent conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and efforts to maintain stability in the Middle East following the recent understanding reached between Washington and Tehran.

During the talks, Qatar’s Emir praised Trump’s handling of the crisis and stressed the importance of the agreement between the US and Iran. He also reaffirmed Qatar’s willingness to support diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and promoting regional peace.

The leaders also reflected on Trump’s visit to Doha in May 2025, which both sides described as a significant milestone in US-Qatar relations.

Trump highlighted the growing economic partnership between the two countries, saying Qatari investment in the United States would continue to expand.

“Qatar is going to be investing much more than USD 1 trillion in the United States," Trump said, adding that economic ties between the two countries were growing rapidly.

The US President also praised the Emir’s role during the recent US-Iran crisis, describing him as a “fantastic man" and saying the Qatari leader would always have a close friendship with him.

Qatar has emerged as one of the region’s most important diplomatic intermediaries in recent years, helping facilitate talks involving the United States, Iran, Israel and other regional actors. The Gulf nation is also home to one of the largest US military bases in the Middle East and has frequently played a mediating role during periods of heightened regional tensions.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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