Caught in the Iran War: Qatar’s PM on the Middle East “Earthquake”

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al Thani, navigates the complexities of the current Middle East crisis, characterizing the regional instability as an "earthquake" that demands robust national resilience. As a central mediator between the United States, Iran, and other conflicting parties, Qatar faces significant economic disruption, including a decline in oil and gas revenues. The government is responding by launching the Doha Investment Platform to cultivate national champions while maintaining its global sovereign wealth strategy, which includes substantial investments in artificial intelligence. Despite the volatility, Qatar remains committed to its strategic alliance with the United States and advocates for a collaborative regional security framework to prevent future escalations. The conversation underscores the difficulty of maintaining effective, neutral mediation channels while managing the humanitarian and geopolitical fallout of ongoing regional conflicts.