Explosions were heard over Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Monday, according to a Reuters witness. The blasts occurred shortly after a Western diplomat confirmed that Iran had issued a credible threat against the U.S.-run Al Udeid air base, located in the Gulf Arab state. The threat had reportedly been made around midday.
The diplomat’s remarks came shortly after Qatar announced it was temporarily closing its airspace to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Earlier, the U.S. embassy in Qatar had advised American citizens to shelter in place “out of an abundance of caution.”
Iran has warned of potential retaliation against the United States following the bombing of the country’s underground nuclear facilities by U.S. bombers over the weekend. The strikes involved 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, and President Donald Trump publicly suggested the possibility of toppling the Iranian government.
In a further escalation, Israel carried out an airstrike on a political prison in Tehran on Monday, marking a shift in its military strategy by targeting not only Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure but also the very foundations of the Iranian ruling system.
Two U.S. officials have indicated that Washington believes Iran may soon target American forces in the Middle East. Despite the threat, the United States continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution, urging Tehran to refrain from retaliatory actions.
Although Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments from the Gulf, oil prices remained largely stable, suggesting that traders remain skeptical of the Islamic Republic following through on actions that could disrupt global oil supplies.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as Tehran sought support from one of its few remaining allies amidst the growing tensions.
