Qatar’s emir urges diplomacy as Gulf faces ‘dangerous phase’ amid Iran war

Sheikh Tamim says years of delayed diplomacy led to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, September 22, 2026 [Mike Segar/Reuters]

The Gulf is experiencing “one of the most dangerous phases” due to the US-Israel war on Iran that “can be resolved through diplomatic means”, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has said at the United Nations General Assembly.

Reaffirming Qatar’s role as a “trusted mediator”, Sheikh Tamim said on Tuesday that diplomacy would lead to a lasting solution ensuring security for the entire region, including Iran.

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“We remain convinced that the crisis in the Gulf can be resolved through diplomatic means, through reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation, in order to avert war,” Sheikh Tamim said, in translated remarks.

Qatar is doing “everything in our power to address the conflict in the region through diplomatic means” but remains “steadfast” in defending its territory and sovereignty, he said.

Shortly after Sheikh Tamim’s address, United States President Donald Trump said officials held a “very good” three-hour meeting with the Iranian delegation. Prior to the meeting, Trump repeated threats to “annihilate” Iran in his UN speech.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, September 22, 2026 [Brendan McDermin/Reuters]

Sheikh Tamim said the war on Iran was the “cumulative result of years” of postponing diplomatic resolutions and called for a “regional system of collective security”.

“In the absence of such a system, it has become possible for a war to erupt,” he said.

Sheikh Tamim slammed Israel for its “aggression” in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, saying attacks have expanded to neighbouring countries, “affecting the security of the region as a whole”.

“There can be no talk of a just international order as long as Palestine remains in its plight,” he said. “What has transpired in Gaza is genocide in every sense of the word.”

Sheikh Tamim expressed Qatar’s support for Lebanon, Sudan and Libya, calling for state sovereignty.

“We support United Nations efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political settlement based on the outcomes of the national dialogue facilitated by the United Nations, in a manner that preserves Yemen’s unity and sovereignty and achieves security and stability,” he said.

Threatening lifelines

The speech comes as the nearly seven-month-old war increasingly threatens the Gulf’s economic lifelines, with the US and Iran trading strikes on oil tankers and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

In September, Saudi Arabia shuttered the key East-West oil pipeline after it was struck by drones launched from Iraq.

Meanwhile, a new spell of fighting has broken out in Yemen, following territorial advances by the Houthi rebel group towards the critical Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The war began after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28 amid negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, killing its supreme leader, other top officials and dozens of civilians.

Iran responded by launching strikes across the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

谢赫·塔米姆表示，多年来外交斡旋的延误导致了美国和以色列对伊朗的战争。

2026年9月22日，卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼在纽约联合国总部举行的第81届联合国大会上发表讲话。[迈克·塞加尔/路透社]

卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼在联合国大会上表示，由于美国和以色列对伊朗的战争，海湾地区正经历“最危险的阶段之一”，而这场战争“可以通过外交手段解决”。

卡塔尔酋长塔米姆周二重申了卡塔尔作为“值得信赖的调解人”的角色，并表示外交手段将带来持久的解决方案，确保包括伊朗在内的整个地区的安全。

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埃尔多安在联合国发表措辞激烈的讲话，抨击以色列的“种族灭绝心态”（共4项，此为第3项）。

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“我们仍然坚信，海湾危机可以通过外交手段解决，通过重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的海上航行，从而避免战争，”谢赫·塔米姆在翻译后的讲话中说道。

他说，卡塔尔正在“尽一切努力通过外交手段解决该地区的冲突”，但仍然“坚定不移”地捍卫其领土和主权。

谢赫·塔米姆发表讲话后不久，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普表示，官员们与伊朗代表团举行了“非常好的”三个小时会谈。会谈前，特朗普在联合国大会上再次威胁要“消灭”伊朗。

2026年9月22日，卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼在纽约联合国总部向联合国大会发表讲话。[布伦丹·麦克德明/路透社]

谢赫·塔米姆表示，对伊朗的战争是多年来外交决议被推迟的“累积结果”，并呼吁建立“区域集体安全体系”。

他说：“如果没有这样的制度，战争就有可能爆发。”

谢赫·塔米姆抨击以色列在被占领的西岸和加沙地带的“侵略行为”，称袭击已蔓延至邻国，“影响了整个地区的安全”。

他说：“只要巴勒斯坦的困境持续存在，就谈不上公正的国际秩序。加沙发生的一切都是名副其实的种族灭绝。”

谢赫·塔米姆表达了卡塔尔对黎巴嫩、苏丹和利比亚的支持，呼吁维护国家主权。

他说：“我们支持联合国为达成一项全面的政治解决方案而做出的努力，该解决方案应以联合国斡旋的全国对话成果为基础，以维护也门的统一和主权，并实现安全与稳定。”

威胁生命线

这场持续近七个月的战争日益威胁着海湾地区的经济命脉，美国和伊朗在霍尔木兹海峡对油轮和其他船只发动袭击，而此时伊朗发表讲话。

9 月，沙特阿拉伯关闭了连接东西部的关键石油管道，此前该管道遭到从伊拉克发射的无人机袭击。

与此同时，也门爆发了新一轮战斗，胡塞武装向关键的曼德海峡推进，导致该地区战事升级。

这场战争始于2月28日，当时美国和以色列正就伊朗核计划进行谈判，对伊朗发动袭击，导致伊朗最高领袖、其他高级官员和数十名平民丧生。

伊朗随即对海湾地区发动袭击，目标包括阿拉伯联合酋长国、科威特、卡塔尔、阿曼和巴林。