Former Qatar PM says Netanyahu using Iran war to reshape Middle East

Former Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani has warned that the United States-Israel war on Iran is transforming the political landscape of the Middle East and increasing the risk of long-term regional instability.

Speaking in a televised interview, Sheikh Hamad said the conflict was not a sudden development but part of a broader Israeli strategy aimed at reshaping the region through military pressure and political alliances.

He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the war to push a vision of a “Greater Israel” and deepen regional divisions.

Warning over Strait of Hormuz

Sheikh Hamad described the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz as the most dangerous consequence of the conflict, saying the waterway has become a major global flashpoint.

He argued that Iran now sees the strait as part of its strategic leverage and warned that disruptions there pose serious threats to the global economy and energy markets.

The former Qatari leader also criticised attacks on Gulf infrastructure during the conflict, saying Gulf countries have suffered economically and politically despite opposing the war.

He stressed that Gulf states and Iran must eventually find a way to coexist through direct dialogue and collective regional discussions.

Call for Gulf defence alliance

Sheikh Hamad called for the creation of a unified Gulf defence and political alliance, describing it as a “Gulf NATO”.

He said regional unity was essential for long-term security and warned that Gulf countries could no longer depend entirely on the United States for protection as Washington shifts its strategic focus towards Asia.

According to Sheikh Hamad, stronger partnerships with countries such as Turkiye, Pakistan and Egypt could help Gulf nations strengthen their security and political influence.

Criticism of war and Gaza conflict

Discussing the war in Gaza, Sheikh Hamad accused Israel of causing a humanitarian catastrophe and warned against any efforts to force Palestinians out of the territory.

He said any discussion about disarming Hamas must include a clear political path towards an independent Palestinian state.

The former Qatari prime minister also praised Saudi Arabia’s position of refusing to normalise relations with Israel without guarantees for Palestinian statehood.

Sheikh Hamad additionally revealed that Qatar had previously acted as a diplomatic messenger between the United States and Iran during discussions over Tehran’s nuclear programme in the late 1990s.