Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warns that an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites could contaminate Gulf waters, threatening life in Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait. Advocating for diplomacy over military action, he highlights the region’s reliance on desalinated water and the potential for widespread devastation. The geopolitical tension centers around U.S. sanctions and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has expressed concern that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could severely contaminate the Gulf’s waters, jeopardizing life for millions in Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait. These countries, located across the Gulf from Iran, depend primarily on desalinated water, as they possess limited natural freshwater reserves.
In a statement, Sheikh Mohammed warned of dire consequences, stating, “no water, no fish, nothing … no life” would result from such an attack. He strongly advocates for a diplomatic resolution to prevent a military conflict that could escalate to disastrous levels across the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in negotiating a new nuclear deal with Iran while reapplying sanctions to weaken Iran’s economy. Sheikh Mohammed articulated his position in an interview with Tucker Carlson, indicating Qatar’s refusal to support military interventions and its commitment to seeking peaceful solutions.
Amid these tensions, Iran maintains it does not pursue nuclear weapons and rebuffs pressure in international negotiations. Qatar evaluated its vulnerability a few years ago, predicting it might exhaust its potable water supplies within three days if Iran’s nuclear sites were attacked. Subsequently, Qatar has constructed 15 large concrete reservoirs to enhance its emergency water supply.
Sheikh Mohammed also pointed out the geographical danger, noting that some of Iran’s nuclear sites are nearer to Qatar than Tehran itself. While Qatar enjoys a close alliance with the U.S., hosting the largest American military base in the Middle East, it also shares significant energy interests with Iran, notably one of the world’s largest gas fields.
This situation follows the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement during Trump’s presidency, which initially aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief. Following the U.S. exit in 2018, Iran expanded its nuclear activities, exceeding previous restrictions.
In summary, the Prime Minister of Qatar has voiced critical concerns regarding the environmental and humanitarian implications of a potential military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Advocating for diplomacy, he emphasized the life-risking impacts on the Gulf States, which rely heavily on the region’s waters. With the backdrop of U.S. sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program, the situation underscores the complexities of regional security and water dependency in the Gulf.
Original Source: www.thestar.com.my
