Qatar summons Iranian envoy after strike on US base

Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday following Tehran's missile strikes on the Al Udeid Airbase in Doha, which houses American forces.

Iran described the strike as a retaliatory action in response to US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.

Iran hit the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after the announcement made by the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bases used by the US forces “in the region or elsewhere” could be attacked in retaliation. 

Following the strike on the American base, US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel in an effort to end the violent conflict that had been ongoing for over two weeks.

Read: What are key US military bases in the Middle East?

Recently, the foreign ministry of Qatar expressed its “strong condemnation” of the attack and reiterated that it “retains the right to respond to this egregious violation,” the statement said.

Earlier, the Iranian deputy foreign minister thanked Qatar for its “constructive role” in de-escalation in the region. 

According to reports, Iranian diplomat Majid Takhtravanchi, in a telephonic conversation with Qatari Minister of State Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifa, expressed gratitude over their participation in preventing the region from war.

“Iran is determined to continue and strengthen relations between the two countries based on good neighbourliness and supreme interests,” Takhtravanchi said.