Security
Qatar arrests Al Jazeera analysts over alleged Iranian regime ties
Qatar, post-infrastructure attacks, dramatically pivots its stance on the Iranian regime, launching a campaign to crush all ideological support within its borders.
![A plume of smoke rises following a reported Iranian strike in Doha on March 1, 2026. [Mahmud Hams/AFP]](/gc1/images/2026/04/23/55553-qatar_-600_384.webp)
By Noureddine Omar |
Qatar is undergoing a radical shift in its official and media posture toward the Iranian regime.
Qatar's new posture is a reaction to Iranian bombardment of its territory, shattering prior appeals for calm and friendly relations.
In a decisive move, Qatari authorities detained two Al-Jazeera analysts, Saeed Ziad and Fatma al-Samadi, alongside former employee Mona Hawa.
The detentions were triggered by social media posts deemed a direct ideological alignment with the Iranian regime.
Al-Samadi provided definitive evidence against herself by brazenly referring to Ali Larijani, the now-deceased secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, as a "martyr."
Following the publication of these tweets, al-Samadi’s account on the X platform was suspended, presumably under pressure from Qatari authorities.
Qatar views such posts as an act of treason, especially after the arrest of individuals charged with collaborating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
"Qatar's current reaction is entirely natural, given years of maintaining an open-door policy aimed at dialogue," Qatari international affairs researcher Mahmoud Abdul Moneim told Al-Fassel.
"The IRGC's declaration of war, made brutally clear by its targeting of civilian, economic and oil infrastructure, has completely shattered all of Qatar's diplomatic efforts," he added.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has implied support for the crackdown, condemning the events as a "big betrayal" by Iranian leadership.
The Qatari public sphere has fundamentally transformed, viewing the Iranian regime's bombardment as a direct assault that transcends mere security measures.
May Allah give victory to Qatar!
May Allah safeguard the State of Qatar and the Arabian Gulf from all aggression, and grant them ever-greater development and prosperity, under wise leadership, amidst enduring security, and beneath the divine care of Allah for both the leadership and the people.
We wish for calm in the region and stability for everyone.
May Allah protect the Arab and the Muslim nations from foreign ambitions, and may He protect Qatar—its leadership and its people—and grant it further progress and prosperity under the leadership of Sheikh Tamim, may Allah protect him.
May Allah protect you and guide your steps!
However, to our brother leaders in Qatar, is it not time that we unite, even if only for a time, with the enemies of our enemies, so that we may achieve the liberation of Palestine?
Is extending our hand to Iran in support of its war against Israel not a higher priority than fighting against Iran itself?
Should not the instruments of war in your possession be deployed, first and foremost, to be unleashed upon the Jews after this long, long era of slumber?
Now that your zeal has finally been roused, did you not witness your honour being violated by the Jews, yet remain silent for ages?
Where is your pride, O Arabs?
Where is your dignity?
Any attack on our people in the Arab Gulf is an attack on the Arab and Islamic nation. We stand with our people in the Gulf against any aggression targeting them.
The criminal policies of Iran must be met with a united stance from all Arab countries.
Long live Qatar! And may Allah's curse be upon Iran and the Shiites. I am from Syria—from the proud province of Idlib.
May Allah be with you, people of Palestine. May Allah never grant you success, Bashar al-Assad.
May Allah grant victory to Islam and the Muslims.
I would like news about Qatar.
May God grant peace of mind, and may the Arab peoples live in harmony with all other nations, for God created humanity to live in peace and to enjoy the bounties of the universe with which He has blessed us.
It is enough that we have tension in the Strait of Hormuz; we do not want further tensions in the Red Sea, as this harms the economy, affects oil resources, and drives up prices. These issues should be resolved politically, without war or fighting.
So far, the Gulf states have not acted wisely toward their neighbor, Iran. Iran’s position toward its Gulf neighbors is clear and, in its view, not hostile; rather, enemies are using Gulf states’ territory as a platform for attacks against Iran. It is worth noting, the speaker argues, that despite Iran’s power and ability to devastate the Gulf states, it has instead targeted specific objectives, framing its actions as defending its people and territory.