Iran's justifications for attacks on Qatar, other countries are 'totally rejected': PM

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has strongly condemned Iranian atta...

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has strongly condemned Iranian attacks on the State of Qatar and other Gulf countries, saying the justifications provided by Tehran are “totally rejected.”

In an interview with Sky News, His Excellency praised the professionalism of Qatari armed forces and security services in protecting the country, its citizens, residents, and visitors.

“Unfortunately, it's been very difficult for the entire country,” HE Sheikh Mohammed said. "But we have our defense and security personnel doing a great job in defending the country and its people. They have demonstrated a professional way in dealing with all these threats that's coming from Iran.

"We never expected this to come to us from our neighbor. We were always building this relationship in preserving the good neighborhood and relationship in a good faith with Iran. Unfortunately, there are like some justifications and pretext that they've been using to justify these attacks on the state of Qatar and other countries, which is totally rejected."

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs described Iran's actions as "betrayal" and said the strikes were pre-planned, hitting Qatar and other Gulf states immediately after the outbreak of war. "And all of us before this war, we've been saying and repeating that we are not going to take part in any attacks or any wars against our neighbors. We would like to see a peaceful neighborhood. We were helping Iran and the United States reach diplomatic solutions," he said. "But this miscalculation by the Iranians to attack the Gulf countries has destroyed everything."