Latest news with #GulfTensions
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Qatar defused Iran's attack on the largest US-run base in the region
Top Qatari officials had been meeting with the country's prime minister on Monday afternoon to find ways of de-escalating a conflict between Iran and Israel, when defense ministry personnel called to warn of incoming Iranian missiles. The attack, the first on the Gulf, caught them by surprise, according to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, who recalls feeling the prime minister's residence shake with the interceptions that quickly followed overhead. Unease had gripped the Gulf Arab states that morning. The glitzy, oil-rich capitals feared a worst-case scenario: an Iranian missile strike shattering their image of stability after 12 days of war between Israel and Iran, which had culminated in a series of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Bahrain, where the US Naval Command is located, told residents not to use main roads and Kuwait, which hosts several US military bases, activated shelters in ministerial complexes. In nearby Dubai and Abu Dhabi, some residents were booking early flights out and others stocking up on supplies. In Doha, nervous residents were on high alert. US and UK citizens in the country had been told to seek shelter and American military personnel had been evacuated from the US-run Al Udeid Base. Qatar's early warning military radar system, one of the most advanced in the region, and intelligence gathered indicated that Iranian missile batteries had moved toward Qatar earlier that day, the spokesperson said – but nothing was certain until shortly before the strikes. 'It could've been misdirected to lead us away from the actual target. There was still a lot of targets in the region…but towards the end it was very clear, their missile systems were hot and we had a very clear idea an hour before the attack, Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari official with knowledge of defense operations said. Around 7 p.m. local time, Qatari officials were informed by their military that Iran's missiles were airborne and heading towards Al Udeid base, Al-Ansari said. Qatar's armed forces deployed 300 service members and activated multiple Qatari Patriot anti-air missile batteries across two sites to counter the 19 Iranian missiles roaring toward the country, according to Al-Ansari. US President Donald Trump has said that 14 missiles were fired from Iran. Qatari forces coordinated closely with the US, but the operation was 'Qatari led,' Al-Ansari told CNN. Seven missiles were intercepted over the Persian Gulf before reaching Qatari soil, he said. Another 11 were intercepted over Doha without causing damage and one landed in an uninhabited area of the base causing minimal damage. According to Trump, Iran had given the US early notice ahead of the attack. While Doha received intel from Washington, it did not receive any warning directly from the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari – though officials were well aware that the US bases in the region could be targeted. 'The Iranians told us months ago … if there was an attack by the US on Iranian soil that would make bases hosting American forces in the region legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that warning was reiterated to his Gulf counterparts in an Istanbul meeting a day before Iranian strikes on Qatar. Iran's National Security Council said after the intercepted attack that its strikes had posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' Still, Al-Ansari rejects speculation that Qatar – given its working relationship with Tehran – might have given a greenlight for the strikes in order to create an off-ramp for regional escalation. 'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side and we would never do that as part of political posturing or a game in the region,' he said. 'We would not put our people in the line of danger. I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us,' Ansari said. In the moments after the attack, Trump called Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani telling him the Israelis were willing to agree to a ceasefire and asked him to do the same for the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari. 'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack … this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Ansari said. Doha's role as mediator quickly became key in the aftermath of the strikes. Qatar's chief negotiator Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi spoke to the Iranians while the Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was speaking to US Vice President JD Vance. Soon, 'we were able to secure a deal,' Al-Ansaris says – and in the nick of time. 'All options were on the table that night … we could have immediately retaliated or pulled back and say we're not talking to a country that sent 19 missiles our way. But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now,' Ansari said. Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had been brokered.
CNN
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
How Qatar defused Iran's attack on the largest US-run base in the region
Top Qatari officials had been meeting with the country's prime minister on Monday afternoon to find ways of de-escalating a conflict between Iran and Israel, when defense ministry personnel called to warn of incoming Iranian missiles. The attack, the first on the Gulf, caught them by surprise, according to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, who recalls feeling the prime minister's residence shake with the interceptions that quickly followed overhead. Unease had gripped the Gulf Arab states that morning. The glitzy, oil-rich capitals feared a worst-case scenario: an Iranian missile strike shattering their image of stability after 12 days of war between Israel and Iran, which had culminated in a series of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Bahrain, where the US Naval Command is located, told residents not to use main roads and Kuwait, which hosts several US military bases, activated shelters in ministerial complexes. In nearby Dubai and Abu Dhabi, some residents were booking early flights out and others stocking up on supplies. In Doha, nervous residents were on high alert. US and UK citizens in the country had been told to seek shelter and American military personnel had been evacuated from the US-run Al Udeid Base. Qatar's early warning military radar system, one of the most advanced in the region, and intelligence gathered indicated that Iranian missile batteries had moved toward Qatar earlier that day, the spokesperson said – but nothing was certain until shortly before the strikes. 'It could've been misdirected to lead us away from the actual target. There was still a lot of targets in the region…but towards the end it was very clear, their missile systems were hot and we had a very clear idea an hour before the attack, Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari official with knowledge of defense operations said. Around 7 p.m. local time, Qatari officials were informed by their military that Iran's missiles were airborne and heading towards Al Udeid base, Al-Ansari said. Qatar's armed forces deployed 300 service members and activated multiple Qatari Patriot anti-air missile batteries across two sites to counter the 19 Iranian missiles roaring toward the country, according to Al-Ansari. US President Donald Trump has said that 14 missiles were fired from Iran. Qatari forces coordinated closely with the US, but the operation was 'Qatari led,' Al- Ansari told CNN. Seven missiles were intercepted over the Persian Gulf before reaching Qatari soil, he said. Another 11 were intercepted over Doha without causing damage and one landed in an uninhibited area of the base causing minimal damage. According to Trump, Iran had given the US early notice ahead of the attack. While Doha received intel from Washington, it did not receive any warning directly from the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari – though officials were well aware that the US bases in the region could be targeted. 'The Iranians told us months ago … if there was an attack by the US on Iranian soil that would make bases hosting American forces in the region legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that warning was reiterated to his Gulf counterparts in an Istanbul meeting a day before Iranian strikes on Qatar. Iran's National Security Council said after the intercepted attack that its strikes had posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' Still, Al-Ansari rejects speculation that Qatar – given its working relationship with Tehran – might have given a greenlight for the strikes in order to create an off-ramp for regional escalation. 'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side and we would never do that as part of political posturing or a game in the region,' he said. 'We would not put our people in the line of danger. I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us,' Ansari said. In the moments after the attack, Trump called Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani telling him the Israelis were willing to agree to a ceasefire and asked him to do the same for the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari. 'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack … this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Ansari said. Doha's role as mediator quickly became key in the aftermath of the strikes. Qatar's chief negotiator Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi spoke to the Iranians while the Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was speaking to US Vice President JD Vance. Soon, 'we were able to secure a deal,' Al-Ansaris says – and in the nick of time. 'All options were on the table that night … we could have immediately retaliated or pulled back and say we're not talking to a country that sent 19 missiles our way. But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now,' Ansari said. Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had been brokered.
CNN
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
How Qatar defused Iran's attack on the largest US-run base in the region
Top Qatari officials had been meeting with the country's prime minister on Monday afternoon to find ways of de-escalating a conflict between Iran and Israel, when defense ministry personnel called to warn of incoming Iranian missiles. The attack, the first on the Gulf, caught them by surprise, according to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, who recalls feeling the prime minister's residence shake with the interceptions that quickly followed overhead. Unease had gripped the Gulf Arab states that morning. The glitzy, oil-rich capitals feared a worst-case scenario: an Iranian missile strike shattering their image of stability after 12 days of war between Israel and Iran, which had culminated in a series of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Bahrain, where the US Naval Command is located, told residents not to use main roads and Kuwait, which hosts several US military bases, activated shelters in ministerial complexes. In nearby Dubai and Abu Dhabi, some residents were booking early flights out and others stocking up on supplies. In Doha, nervous residents were on high alert. US and UK citizens in the country had been told to seek shelter and American military personnel had been evacuated from the US-run Al Udeid Base. Qatar's early warning military radar system, one of the most advanced in the region, and intelligence gathered indicated that Iranian missile batteries had moved toward Qatar earlier that day, the spokesperson said – but nothing was certain until shortly before the strikes. 'It could've been misdirected to lead us away from the actual target. There was still a lot of targets in the region…but towards the end it was very clear, their missile systems were hot and we had a very clear idea an hour before the attack, Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari official with knowledge of defense operations said. Around 7 p.m. local time, Qatari officials were informed by their military that Iran's missiles were airborne and heading towards Al Udeid base, Al-Ansari said. Qatar's armed forces deployed 300 service members and activated multiple Qatari Patriot anti-air missile batteries across two sites to counter the 19 Iranian missiles roaring toward the country, according to Al-Ansari. US President Donald Trump has said that 14 missiles were fired from Iran. Qatari forces coordinated closely with the US, but the operation was 'Qatari led,' Al- Ansari told CNN. Seven missiles were intercepted over the Persian Gulf before reaching Qatari soil, he said. Another 11 were intercepted over Doha without causing damage and one landed in an uninhibited area of the base causing minimal damage. According to Trump, Iran had given the US early notice ahead of the attack. While Doha received intel from Washington, it did not receive any warning directly from the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari – though officials were well aware that the US bases in the region could be targeted. 'The Iranians told us months ago … if there was an attack by the US on Iranian soil that would make bases hosting American forces in the region legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that warning was reiterated to his Gulf counterparts in an Istanbul meeting a day before Iranian strikes on Qatar. Iran's National Security Council said after the intercepted attack that its strikes had posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' Still, Al-Ansari rejects speculation that Qatar – given its working relationship with Tehran – might have given a greenlight for the strikes in order to create an off-ramp for regional escalation. 'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side and we would never do that as part of political posturing or a game in the region,' he said. 'We would not put our people in the line of danger. I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us,' Ansari said. In the moments after the attack, Trump called Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani telling him the Israelis were willing to agree to a ceasefire and asked him to do the same for the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari. 'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack … this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Ansari said. Doha's role as mediator quickly became key in the aftermath of the strikes. Qatar's chief negotiator Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi spoke to the Iranians while the Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was speaking to US Vice President JD Vance. Soon, 'we were able to secure a deal,' Al-Ansaris says – and in the nick of time. 'All options were on the table that night … we could have immediately retaliated or pulled back and say we're not talking to a country that sent 19 missiles our way. But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now,' Ansari said. Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had been brokered.
UAE Moments
25-06-2025
- Business
- UAE Moments
UAE Emerges Steady as Hormuz Tensions Wind Down
After days of rising tensions in the Gulf following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, both Iran and Israel announced a ceasefire on Tuesday, June 24. This has eased fears of a wider regional conflict and a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that had been at the center of global concern. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! While Iran's parliament approved the option to block the Strait on June 22, pending approval from its Supreme National Security Council, the truce suggests that this drastic step was unlikely from the start. Still, regional anxiety was high. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, with around 20 per cent of global oil, or 17 million barrels per day, passing through it. But experts say that even in a worst-case scenario, the UAE would have remained one of the best-prepared countries in the region to withstand the fallout. UAE's Oil Flow Is Protected by Smart Infrastructure Hamza Dweik, Head of Trading at Saxo Bank MENA, noted the immediate economic risks the UAE would face in a closure scenario, including disruptions to oil exports, inflation, and delays in imports. However, he also pointed to the country's forward-thinking infrastructure. 'The Habshan–Fujairah pipeline allows the UAE to bypass the Strait entirely, sending crude straight to the eastern coast,' he said. This pipeline can carry up to 1.8 million barrels per day, significantly easing reliance on Hormuz. Ports like Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, which are outside the Strait, also ensure continued shipping access. Add to that the UAE's liberalised fuel pricing model, government-controlled strategic reserves, and deep sovereign wealth buffers, and the result is a nation that's far better insulated from geopolitical shocks than many of its neighbors. Imports, AI, and Energy Security: The Next Layer of Risk Dweik also highlighted how import disruptions would be felt across sectors, from food to construction. "Freight and insurance costs would rise, shipments would be delayed, and inflation could pick up," he explained. Konstantin Vladimirovich Tserazov, former Senior VP at Otkritie Bank, pointed out that global shipping has already started adjusting routes. 'Ships are taking long detours to avoid the area. This adds cost and time, which eventually hits the consumer,' he said. He also flagged risks to the UAE's booming AI and tech ambitions. 'Data centres need energy. Most of the UAE's electricity, about 76.5 per cent, is powered by gas. If LNG shipments from Qatar are disrupted due to Hormuz closure, energy shortages could ripple into the digital economy.' Maritime Resilience and Financial Cushion Capt. Dilip Goel, who oversees maritime monitoring at AD Ports Group, said a full-scale disruption at Hormuz could impact up to $15 billion in monthly trade connected to the UAE. 'Ports like Jebel Ali and Khalifa could face delays, vessel bunching, and schedule chaos,' he said. 'But Fujairah and other eastern ports outside Hormuz give the UAE a critical edge.' The country also benefits from substantial financial reserves, over $150 billion in cash and nearly $1.5 trillion in sovereign wealth assets. That gives the UAE flexibility to handle economic shocks, maintain investor confidence, and support key sectors through turbulent periods. Strategic Foresight Keeps the UAE Steady Experts agree: while the risk of a Strait of Hormuz closure may have passed for now, the UAE's infrastructure and planning put it in a strong position to weather future storms. From diversified port access and oil pipelines to strong capital reserves and clear trade policy, the UAE continues to show why it's one of the most stable and prepared economies in the region. As Goel summed it up: 'This is not just about oil. It's about resilience across the board, in trade, energy, logistics, and security. And the UAE has already done the hard work.'
Khaleej Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How UAE is well-positioned for resilience as Hormuz tensions recede
After days of escalating Gulf tensions following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, both Iran and Israel announced a ceasefire early today, easing fears of a full-fledged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While Tehran's parliament had approved the option to block the vital waterway on June 22, pending approval by its Supreme National Security Council the recent truce and Iran's restraint signal that this dramatic move was never likely. But experts now say the UAE was never truly in the line of fire, and even if the worst had materialised, the country is among the best positioned in the region to absorb the shock. 'The recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites have dramatically heightened geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, placing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, at the centre of global economic concern. Roughly 20 per cent of the world's daily oil supply, or about 17 million barrels per day, passes through this narrow waterway,' said Hamza Dweik, Head of Trading at Saxo Bank Mena. 'For the UAE, a temporary closure of the Strait would have immediate and multifaceted economic consequences, particularly in the areas of oil exports, imports, and inflation,' he added. However, analysts point out that the UAE's exposure is cushioned by both infrastructure and policy foresight. A major portion of its oil exports can bypass the Strait via the Habshan–Fujairah pipeline, which runs directly to the eastern seaboard. Ports like Fujairah and Khor Fakkan also lie outside the Strait, ensuring continued access to international shipping lanes. Combined with the country's liberalised fuel pricing model, strategic stockpiles, and sovereign wealth buffers, these factors greatly reduce the impact of short-term disruptions. The UAE exports around 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, with a significant portion transiting through the strait. While the Habshan–Fujairah pipeline offers an alternate route capable of transporting up to 1.8 million barrels a day, it doesn't fully offset the volume typically passing through Hormuz. 'On the import side, the UAE relies heavily on maritime routes for essential goods, including food, machinery, and construction materials. Disruptions would likely increase freight and insurance costs, delay shipments, and contribute to imported inflation,' Dweik said. Konstantin Vladimirovich Tserazov, former Senior Vice President at Otkritie Bank, noted that global shipping had already started adjusting in anticipation of conflict. 'Right now, ships are already avoiding the area. MarineTraffic data shows vessels taking long detours, adding days to voyages. The UAE imports 90 per cent of its food and consumer goods by sea. Longer shipping routes mean higher costs—and those get passed to consumers.' 'With Dubai's financial hub deeply tied to trade, foreign investors might pull back, hurting capital flows just as the UAE pushes its non-oil growth,' he added. Tserazov also flagged a less obvious risk: energy supply to power-hungry sectors like AI and data infrastructure. 'Data centres guzzle power, and that's a problem. The UAE is betting big on AI, expecting it to contribute 14 per cent to GDP by 2030. But AI needs data centres, and data centres need massive energy. Gas fuels 76.5 per cent of the UAE's electricity… If Hormuz closes, LNG shipments from Qatar (which also transit the strait) get cut off. Suddenly, keeping servers online competes with cooling homes and running factories.' Despite these risks, maritime experts say the UAE was already positioned for resilience. 'A closure or escalation in the Strait of Hormuz would significantly disrupt maritime operations connected to the UAE, with consequences spanning trade, logistics, insurance, and security,' said Capt. Dilip Goel, who leads unified maritime asset monitoring and control at AD Ports Group. 'Any disruption could affect up to $10–15 billion in monthly trade flows, depending on the severity and duration. UAE ports like Jebel Ali, Khalifa, and Mina Rashid… would see schedule disruptions, vessel bunching, and cascading delays across container, tanker, and bulk traffic.' Ports outside the strait, including Fujairah, the world's second-largest bunkering port, act as vital alternatives. Meanwhile, the UAE's strong financial position, with over $150 billion in reserves and nearly $1.5 trillion in sovereign wealth fund assets, offers enough cushion for short-term shocks. 'In short, while the UAE is better positioned than many Gulf nations to absorb and reroute, a prolonged closure of Hormuz would not just delay cargo, it would test the region's entire maritime security architecture, logistics resilience, and commercial adaptability,' Goel said. While the danger appears to have passed for now, experts agree the UAE's strategic foresight, from energy pipelines and diversified ports to strong capital reserves, will continue to offer a reliable shield against regional volatility.
