Doha: Qatari daily Al-Raya warned that Iran's continued attacks on vessels and oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz cannot force an end to the maritime closure, secure political or negotiating gains for Tehran, or give it control over the vital waterway as a means of pressuring its neighbors and the international community.
According to Qatar News Agency, in an editorial published today under the headline "The Strait of Hormuz Is Not a Pressure Tool," the newspaper stressed that the strait is a vital international shipping route whose security and freedom of navigation are matters of shared interest and must never be held hostage to the political or military calculations of any party.
Against this backdrop, Al-Raya highlighted Qatar's condemnation of the Iranian attack on two UAE oil tankers operated by ADNOC as they transited the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar said the attack was a flagrant violation of international law and freedom of navigation, as well as a blatant breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
The newspaper also highlighted Qatar's renewed categorical rejection of any attempt to use the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool and its call for the vital waterway to be reopened unconditionally.
The newspaper stressed that Qatar has affirmed that freedom of navigation through the vital waterway is a firmly established principle that cannot be compromised, warning that its continued closure threatens the vital interests of countries across the region and the global economy. It also expressed Qatar's full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and support for all measures taken by the UAE to safeguard its assets.
Al-Raya warned that the situation is being further aggravated by Iran's continued targeting of vessels and assets belonging to Gulf countries, despite repeated regional calls for dialogue and de-escalation. Such actions, it said, are deepening the divide between Iran and its neighbors and undermining efforts to build trust and confidence.
The newspaper stressed that the Gulf states have consistently called for diplomatic solutions and de-escalation, while making sustained efforts to end the confrontation and create conditions conducive to negotiations. Such efforts, it said, should be met with reciprocal steps rather than escalation that targets their interests and assets.
It also warned that attacks on oil tankers carry consequences far beyond security and economic concerns, posing a serious threat to the marine environment. Any major damage to a tanker or spill of its oil cargo could trigger a severe environmental disaster.
Al-Raya concluded by warning that continued attacks will only fuel further escalation in the region, heightening the risk of major incidents and retaliatory responses that could spiral beyond the parties directly involved and have far-reaching consequences.