Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has cautioned that any strike on Iran’s Gulf coast nuclear sites could have devastating regional effects, potentially depriving countries of water.
In an interview with US media figure Tucker Carlson, he disclosed that Qatar had simulated such an attack’s impact, concluding that the sea would be “completely contaminated,” and Qatar could “run out of water in three days.”
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Despite increased reservoir capacity, the prime minister emphasized that the threat remains for all Gulf nations. “No water, no fish, nothing… no life,” he warned in the interview published on Friday.
His remarks coincided with US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an invitation to Iran for nuclear negotiations. While expressing a preference for a peace deal, Trump hinted at alternative measures that could “solve the problem.”
Qatar, roughly 190km (120 miles) south of Iran, relies heavily on desalination for its water supply, as do other Gulf Arab nations. Any contamination of Gulf waters would trigger a severe humanitarian and economic crisis.
Iran operates a nuclear power plant in Bushehr along the Gulf coast, though its main uranium enrichment sites are much farther inland. Sheikh Mohammed underscored not just military concerns but also security and environmental risks tied to attacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
Reaffirming Qatar’s opposition to military escalation, he stated, “We will not stop pushing for a diplomatic resolution between the US and Iran.”
He further noted that Tehran is “willing to engage” and seeks to de-escalate tensions. “They aim to reach a level of stability that reassures everyone. Most importantly, they are prioritizing regional reconciliation.”
Western powers have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies. In 2015, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief under a deal with global powers. However, Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during his first term.
