Iran Offers Qatar Missile Protection If It Expels US Forces

NEWSWEEK-Sept12th2025

By Amir Daftari is a Newsweek reporter

An Iranian lawmaker on Thursday called for Qatar to expel U.S. forces and allow Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to deploy missiles on its territory, a move aimed at countering Israel that could escalate regional tensions.

Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department and the Iranian and Qatari foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

On Tuesday, an Israeli strike in Doha killed a Qatari security officer and several Hamas members. Iran has accused the U.S. of complicity in the attack, putting Qatar in a precarious position. The situation underscores ongoing friction in the Middle East, where a U.S. military presence, Israeli operations and Iranian influence intersect—raising the risk of broader conflict.

Tehran’s statement on Thursday signals its growing willingness to push military influence deeper into the Persian Gulf.

What To Know

Iranian lawmaker Mojtaba Zarei made the remarks on X, directly addressing the ruler of Qatar, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“I propose that the U.S. Army, accomplice of Israel, be expelled from Qatar, and that the Revolutionary Guard aerospace force deploy Fattah hypersonic missiles on your soil to defend your sovereignty,” he wrote in Farsi.

Zarei added that the emir “should request support from the Revolutionary Guard aerospace force to station in Qatar.” The call effectively urges Qatar to allow Iranian missile deployment on its territory as a counterbalance to the Israeli and American presence.

Iran Accuses U.S. of Complicity

Iran’s armed forces said the Israeli strike could not have occurred without U.S. backing, accusing Washington of supporting “the Zionist regime’s crimes.”

Read more on original:

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-lawmaker-qatar-expel-us-host-irgc-missiles-2128817