Iran says strikes on US air base in Qatar were self-defence, not aimed at Doha

Iran missile strikes US air base Qatar: Iran has defended its missile strikes on the US military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar, calling the attack an act of self-defence carried out under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The statement comes amid growing regional tension following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22.
Iranian Foreign Minry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the strikes were a direct response to what Tehran called “unprovoked aggression against Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty” the United States. Baqaei was clear to dinguish that the attack was not directed at Qatar itself.
“Iran’s military strikes on the American military base ‘Al-Udeid’ were in exercise of our self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter… This act of self-defence had nothing to do with our friendly neighbour Qatar, as we enjoy excellent and deeply rooted relationships,” Baqaei said in a post on X.
Story continues below this ad

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to maintaining peaceful relations with Qatar and other nations in the Gulf region, saying: “We resolve not to let US/Israeli criminal aggressions and malign policies against Iran create division between us and the brotherly countries of the region.”
The missile attack on Al-Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East, came days after American strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Reuters, Iran launched multiple missiles at US military installations in both Qatar and Iraq.
In response, US President Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to downplay the scale and effectiveness of the Iranian retaliation.
“Iran has officially responded to our obliteration of their nuclear facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump wrote. “There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free’ because it was headed in a non-threatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done.”Story continues below this ad
He added, “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their system… I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured.”