Qatar PM Calls Iran War Fallout 'an Earthquake' at UN

Qatar's prime minister on Sunday called for a Middle East security framework built on respect for state sovereignty, describing the economic fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran as "an earthquake" whose effects reached well beyond the region. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, made the remarks at the opening of the Qatar Economic Forum's UN General Assembly-adjacent event in New York, according to Al Jazeera.

What Did Qatar's Prime Minister Say About the Iran War?

Sheikh Mohammed said the region needs a "framework in which sovereignty is respected" and in which no state can pose a "threat to another," warning against "cycles of escalation." He added that Qatar has withstood the test to the "foundations" of its economy and security even as the conflict continues to affect the wider region. "Permanent security cannot be built through arrangements that leave any state permanently exposed to insecurity," he said. "We must address the sources of tensions and build confidence."

Why Did Sheikh Mohammed Call the Fallout an 'Earthquake'?

The prime minister said the war's "shock waves" have reached far beyond Middle East borders, unsettling assumptions about security and stability worldwide. "During the crisis, almost every conversation began with security and de-escalation, then turn[ed] to energy supplies, shipping routes, and with our investments, plans will continue," he said, framing the disruptions as different expressions of a single question about what can still be relied upon.

"During the crisis, almost every conversation began with security and de-escalation, then turn[ed] to energy supplies, shipping routes ... When so much is being disrupted, what can still be relied upon?" — Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister, at the UN General Assembly-adjacent forum, Sept. 20, 2026.

What Is Qatar's $38 Billion Infrastructure Plan?

Sheikh Mohammed also announced a shift in Qatar's investment strategy, pledging more than $38 billion in domestic infrastructure spending over the next five years. Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey, reporting from New York, said the pledge is "meant to attract private investors and send a message of Qatar's resilience," even as the prime minister acknowledged the ongoing conflict is "having an impact on the region."

What Happens Next at the UN General Assembly?

The UN General Assembly runs Monday through Friday this week, with the Middle East conflict and its global ramifications expected to dominate speeches and side-meeting diplomacy. Saloomey said Sheikh Mohammed's message on sovereignty and de-escalation "no doubt will be repeated" when Gulf leaders meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday during the assembly. Separately, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, told US media in New York on Sunday that Qatar's mediation efforts to restart talks between Tehran and Washington are ongoing.

Timeline

• Sunday, Sept. 20: Sheikh Mohammed delivers remarks at the Qatar Economic Forum's UN-adjacent event, calling the war's fallout an "earthquake" and announcing the $38 billion domestic infrastructure pledge; Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman says mediation with Tehran and Washington continues.
• Monday, Sept. 21: The UN General Assembly formally opens in New York.
• Tuesday, Sept. 22: Gulf leaders are expected to meet with President Trump on the sidelines of the assembly.
• Friday, Sept. 25: The UN General Assembly session concludes.