Qatar premier, German top diplomat discuss regional tensions, stress need to protect infrastructure

ISTANBUL

Qatar’s prime minister discussed rising regional tensions and risks to critical infrastructure in a phone call with Germany’s foreign minister, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said late Thursday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul about escalating military tensions and their implications for regional and global security, the ministry said.

During the call, Al-Thani, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, stressed the need to halt what he described as “unjustified Iranian attacks” on his country and other nations in the region, warning in particular about threats to facilities linked to water, food and energy.

He also called for stronger coordination, intensified joint efforts and a return to dialogue, urging restraint and diplomacy to contain the crisis, safeguard global energy security, ensure freedom of navigation and protect the environment.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.