NEW YORK — Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani characterized the economic fallout from the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran as an "earthquake," warning that its effects extend far beyond the Middle East.
Speaking Sunday at an event adjacent to the UN General Assembly, Sheikh Mohammed called on states to respect sovereignty as a condition for regional security and warned against "cycles of escalation."
Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, said the war has challenged fundamental assumptions about security and stability. He noted that conversations during the crisis shifted from security and de-escalation to energy supplies, shipping routes and investment plans—different expressions of the same question: what can still be relied upon when so much is disrupted.
He acknowledged that the ongoing conflict is having an impact and stressed that "permanent security cannot be built through arrangements that leave any state permanently exposed to insecurity."
Sheikh Mohammed urged addressing sources of regional tension and building confidence among nations. Gulf leaders are expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday during the UN General Assembly.
In parallel, Sheikh Mohammed announced that Qatar plans to invest more than $38 billion in domestic infrastructure over the next five years. The investment is intended to attract private capital and demonstrate Qatar's resilience during regional challenges.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, told U.S. media in New York on Sunday that his government's mediation efforts are ongoing to restart talks between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the conflict.
