DOHA: In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the State of Qatar has declared the military and security attachés at the Iranian Embassy “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours. The decision, confirmed by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, comes in direct response to what Doha describes as “repeated Iranian targeting and blatant aggression” against its sovereignty .
The formal notification was delivered during a meeting between H.E. Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Ali Salehabadi, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Qatar. The declaration applies not only to the two attaches but also to the staff working within their respective offices .
The ministry’s official statement clarified that the measure is a reaction to specific hostile actions that violated Qatari sovereignty and security. This move follows an Iranian missile strike on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility. The attack caused extensive damage to the energy site, though authorities confirmed that all personnel were accounted for and no casualties were reported .
Qatar condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of international law, specifically citing a breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution No. (2817) and the principles of good neighborliness .
In a firm warning to Tehran, the Ministry stressed that any continuation of this hostile approach will be met with additional measures by the State of Qatar to ensure the protection of its sovereignty, security, and national interests. Doha affirmed that it reserves the right to take all necessary actions in accordance with international law .
The expulsion coincides with a wider regional confrontation. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia reported that it intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh and thwarted a drone attack on a gas facility in its eastern region on the same day۔
