Qatar on Tuesday delivered a formal protest note to Iran after summoning Mohsen Qanei, Iran’s Deputy Ambassador to Doha, to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the targeting of the Qatari tanker Al Rakiyat while it was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz.
The protest note was handed to the Iranian diplomat by Ibrahim bin Yousif Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It conveyed Qatar’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack, describing it as a serious violation of the safety of international maritime navigation, a direct threat to global energy security, and a clear breach of international law.
The note reaffirmed Qatar’s categorical rejection of the attack and stressed that it undermines the security of international shipping and the stability of the region.
Doha called on Iran to immediately cease any actions that threaten regional security, refrain from endangering international maritime navigation and global energy supplies, provide an urgent explanation regarding the attack on the tanker, take immediate measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring, and fully comply with the relevant rules of international law.
Qatar also emphasized in its protest note that it reserves all of its rights to take any measures it deems appropriate, in accordance with international law, to safeguard its interests and national assets.
