Doha, March 19 (NationPress) Qatar has emphatically condemned Iran's hostile actions and is urging an immediate halt to the violence, asserting that escalating tensions and military actions will only serve to further destabilize the region.

In a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Doha, Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani remarked that Iran's assertions of targeting US bases are unacceptable and without justification.

He warned that Iran's recent assault on Ras Laffan will have significant implications for energy supplies, impacting millions globally, as this gas facility is crucial not only for Qatar but for the world at large.

"Iran must cease its attacks and refrain from extending the conflict; any escalation of the war will hinder stability," emphasized Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, who also serves as Qatar's Prime Minister.

Additionally, Qatar News Agency reported that Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani had a phone conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer late Thursday. They discussed the ongoing Iranian aggression against Qatar and neighboring countries, highlighting the dangerous escalation that jeopardizes both regional and international security.

During the call, the UK Prime Minister expressed his condemnation of the attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City, labeling these actions as a blatant violation of international laws. He reaffirmed the UK's commitment to Qatar's security and the necessity for de-escalation and a prompt return to diplomatic negotiations. The discussion also involved strategies to mitigate tensions through diplomatic means and to promote international efforts aimed at preventing the conflict from widening and ensuring stability in the region.

On the same day, Qatar's Foreign Ministers and representatives from several nations, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, convened for a consultative meeting regarding the Iranian strikes.

They unanimously condemned Iran's deliberate attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, particularly those involving ballistic missiles and drones aimed at civilian infrastructures such as residential areas, oil facilities, water desalination plants, airports, and diplomatic missions.

"These attacks are inexcusable under any circumstances," the statement from the meeting emphasized, affirming the right of nations to defend themselves as per Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

The nations involved called on Iran to immediately halt its assaults, adhere to international law, humanitarian principles, and the tenets of good neighborliness as the first step towards de-escalation, achieving security and stability, and revitalizing diplomacy to resolve ongoing crises.