Al-Khulaifi says the widening conflict risks destabilising global markets and energy supplies.

Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Doha is keeping open communication channels with Washington and urging the U.S. to steer the current crisis towards diplomacy, saying a “pathway of peace” and a return to negotiations are essential. 

Asked about the U.S. role in managing the current situation, Al-Khulaifi added that in addition to maintaining open communication and advocating for diplomacy, Qatar continues to raise the attacks on Qatar and other GCC states with its U.S. partners, describing them as “legitimate concerns” that must be addressed.

“We keep our line of communication as always open with our colleagues in the United States and we keep encouraging them and supporting the pathway of peace and resolving conflicts through peaceful means. We really hope that the parties can find that pathway and really end the military operation and return back again to the negotiation table to meet the concerns of the parties,” Al-Khulaifi said.

“Now we’re talking about the concerns of the regional parties as well. When we’re talking about aggressions on Qatar and on the GCC countries, these are legitimate concerns and those were matters that have been discussed under the GCC organisation and we continue to reflect on that with our partners internationally as well.”

Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. interests and infrastructure across several Gulf countries from February 28, after the U.S. and Israel began a joint military offensive on Iran. Among the deadliest early incidents was a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, which killed 165 children and staff.

Qatar has condemned Iran’s attacks on its territory, saying it will continue to exercise its right to self-defence. The minister also praised Qatar’s security forces for intercepting missile and drone attacks.

“We’re also proud of the people that live in Qatar, whether they are citizens or residents. They’ve also resembled the example of resistance, resilience and unity under the strong and wise leadership of the State of Qatar,” he said. 

Al-Khulaifi warned that Iran’s aggression “benefit[s] no one” and “brings damage” to the historical relationship between the two countries. He expressed concern that Iran would target Qatar — with its long record of mediation and conflict resolution efforts. 

“Qatar has been always there in reaching out and stretching the hands of help and support, including the pre-war periods where Qatar intensified its efforts and reached out with the Omani mediators in trying to help and support the parties to reach that agreement,” he said.

The minister added that the widening conflict risks destabilising global markets and energy supplies, saying, “We’ve seen that in the last few days already.” 

He emphasised that the GCC’s security is global security as the region has contributed to energy infrastructures, international trade and diplomacy. 

“Limiting the GCC countries from fulfilling that role would have a major impact on the global market,” he said, adding that it is a “major concern globally, not only regionally.” He also called for a global solution that can protect the chain of supply of energy from GCC to the world. 

Al-Khulaifi noted that Qatar’s Amir has received several phone calls from world leaders expressing solidarity with the nation and conveying concerns about how the conflict has impacted their own countries. He reiterated his call for global engagement for de-escalation. 

On March 7, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would not launch further strikes on neighbouring countries unless attacks on Iran originated from their territory. Pezeshkian had also apologised to neighbouring states. Despite this, the strikes targeting Qatar and other Gulf states have continued. 

In his interview with Al Jazeera, Al-Khulaifi said that Qatar has not, and will not, launch attacks on any neighbouring country. 

“This is a matter of principle for us and what Qatar has done is simply exercise our right to self-defence, and Qatar will continue to use all legitimate means necessary to defend our territory and our people,” he said.