ISLAMABAD: Qatar has expelled Iran’s military and security attachés along with their staff, ordering them to leave the country within 24 hours after declaring them persona non grata.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Wednesday evening, citing repeated Iranian attacks on its territory.
The latest strike involved a ballistic missile that hit Ras Laffan Industrial City, a critical energy hub.
Qatar’s statement described the expulsions as a direct response to Iranian aggression targeting its sovereignty and economic lifeline.
It warned that further hostile actions would prompt additional measures under international law.
The ministry explicitly reserved Qatar’s right to self-defence in line with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Ras Laffan houses the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export complex, featuring 14 production trains with a combined capacity of 77 million metric tonnes per year.
This facility accounts for nearly all of Qatar’s LNG output and supplies roughly one-fifth of global LNG volumes.
QatarEnergy, the state-owned giant, had already halted production at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed earlier this month following prior Iranian drone strikes.
Those earlier attacks forced a nationwide shutdown of LNG and petrochemical operations, sending European gas prices surging over 50 percent.
The shared North Dome/South Pars gas field, the largest in the world, underpins economic ties between Doha and Tehran despite growing friction.
Qatar controls the larger portion and extracts far more efficiently, producing about 18.5 billion cubic feet per day compared with Iran’s much lower output.
Iranian development of its South Pars sector has lagged due to sanctions and technical challenges.
This imbalance has long been a source of quiet tension even as the two nations maintained diplomatic channels.
Analysts note that Qatar has historically acted as a mediator between Iran and Western powers, hosting talks on nuclear issues and prisoner swaps.
The presence of an Iranian ambassador in Doha until now underscored this pragmatic relationship.
Yet the direct missile strike on Ras Laffan crossed a red line for Qatari security planners.
Defence sources confirmed that Qatari forces intercepted four of five incoming ballistic missiles on Wednesday.
The single impact sparked fires that civil defence teams are still containing, though no casualties were reported.
Energy markets reacted immediately, with spot LNG prices climbing as traders assessed supply risks from the Gulf.
Qatar remains the world’s top LNG exporter, shipping 80.97 million metric tonnes in 2025 alone.
Expansion plans aim to reach 142 million tonnes per annum by 2030, positioning Doha to hold a quarter of global supply.
Any prolonged disruption at Ras Laffan would ripple through Asia and Europe, where long-term contracts underpin power generation and industry.
Pakistan, a major buyer of Qatari LNG under multi-year deals, monitors the situation closely for energy security implications.
Regional observers highlight the expulsion as a historic low in bilateral ties since the 2017 Gulf crisis.
Iran has not issued an immediate public response to the 24-hour ultimatum.
Tehran’s embassy in Doha continues operations under the ambassador, but military and security sections must now vacate.
Diplomatic experts describe the move as symbolic yet severe, stripping Iran of key intelligence and liaison personnel in the Gulf.
It signals Doha’s alignment with broader Gulf efforts to deter Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure.
Similar patterns have emerged with Iranian attempts against Saudi and Emirati facilities in recent weeks.
Qatar’s decision aligns with its strategy of protecting vital economic assets amid the widening 2026 regional conflict.
The industrial city’s six LNG berths handle the world’s largest carriers, including QMax vessels designed exclusively for Qatari cargoes.
Storage tanks hold 1.88 million cubic metres, enough for only four days of full production before exports halt.
Restarting the complex after shutdowns requires weeks of careful pressurisation and safety checks.
QatarEnergy chief Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi has stated publicly that full resumption depends on ending the conflict.
This latest expulsion adds diplomatic pressure to military and economic responses already underway.
Observers expect other Gulf states to watch closely for possible coordinated actions.
The episode underscores how energy infrastructure has become the primary battleground in the current escalation.
Qatar’s swift 24-hour deadline leaves little room for negotiation, emphasising the gravity of the breach.
International shipping firms have begun rerouting vessels while monitoring insurance premiums for Gulf waters.
Global energy analysts forecast sustained volatility until de-escalation occurs.
Qatar has emphasised that its measures aim solely at safeguarding citizens and residents.
The Foreign Ministry memorandum was delivered directly to the Iranian embassy in Doha.
This formal notification follows standard diplomatic protocol for declaring persona non grata status.
The affected Iranian personnel include not only the attachés but all staff working in their respective offices.
Evacuation logistics must now be arranged within the tight timeframe amid heightened regional tensions.
The development marks a sharp departure from years of careful balancing in Qatar-Iran relations.
Despite sharing the massive gas reservoir, security concerns have now overridden economic interdependence.
Regional stability hangs in the balance as energy markets absorb the shock.
Qatar’s firm stance may influence future diplomatic calculations across the Gulf and beyond.