Qatar declares Iranian attachés 'persona non grata'

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared Iran’s military and security attachés in Doha persona non grata, ordering them, along with their staff, to leave the country within 24 hours.

The move was conveyed in an official note to the Iranian embassy during a meeting between the ministry’s Director of Protocol, Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, and Iran’s ambassador to Qatar, Ali Salehabadi.

According to the Qatar News Agency, the decision comes in response to repeated Iranian aggression and violations of its sovereignty and security.

The Ministry said the actions breach international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the principles of good neighbourliness.

It warned that any further escalation would be met with additional measures, stressing that Qatar reserves the right to take all necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and national interests.

This comes as Qatar sent its ninth identical letter to both Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Michael Waltz, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of March, regarding the latest developments of the Iranian attack on its territory,

The message was addressed by Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, indicating that since the beginning of the attacks, air defence systems have intercepted a number of hostile aerial targets, noting that there were civilian casualties.

The message continued: "All damages and losses resulting from the attacks will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and we will keep you informed of developments."