Fox Information anchor Bret Baier sat down with Qatari Minister of Overseas Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for an interview that aired on Tuesday evening, relating to the escalating tensions within the Center East and Qatar’s position in de-escalation efforts.
All through the interview, Al Thani refused accountable Iran for funding international terrorist teams like Hamas and the Houthis, remaining agency that Qatar was not able to play the blame sport, however as a substitute was targeted on discovering an answer to place closure on the state of affairs in Gaza between Israel and Hamas earlier than the conflict spreads throughout the area.
“One among our core rules in international insurance policies is to discover a strategy to mediate conflicts and to include them to not escalate additional,” Al Thani stated, telling Baier his nation has been a part of peace talks for some time, whether or not it was with the Taliban and the U.S., Ukraine and Russia, and Hamas and Israel, amongst others. “A part of our international coverage doctrine is to have the ability to discuss to everybody with the intention to bridge the gaps.”
Throughout the interview, Baier requested Al Thani about studies of a framework of a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages.
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The international minister defined that the method was nonetheless untimely, and he didn’t wish to supply guarantees, as extra time and work was wanted to safe a deal.
He stated numbers of hostages being launched weren’t outlined, although by way of classes, discussions are going down to presumably launch girls, aged and wholesome individuals.
Together with talking in regards to the negotiations, Al Thani spoke in regards to the relationship Qatar has with the U.S.
“The U.S. and Qatar relationship has been very robust, and we’ve got this mutual belief between these two international locations, this nice alliance between the 2 international locations, and we consider that that is serving to in restoring regional stability,” he stated. “So, we consider any nation in our area who’re in a position to convey some stability and peace, they’ve a task to play, and they need to step as much as that position.”
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Baier requested Al Thani about how Qatar considered the occasions on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel.
The international minister stated any atrocities dedicated towards civilians are condemned, whether or not they’re Israelis or Palestinians.
“Human beings are human beings, and we’ve been saying this repeatedly,” he stated. “What occurred on the seventh of October and the conflict afterward is simply turning the complete area into inflammatory mode and that is one thing we have to include.”
Al Thani stated the main focus needs to be to place an finish to the conflict, get hostages again to their households and discover a strategy to by no means have an analogous battle occur once more.
However it might probably solely occur a technique, he stated, which might be at a negotiation desk.
“Navy motion is not going to get us the outcome we wish,” he stated.
Over the weekend, three U.S. service members have been killed by a drone strike in northeast Jordan, close to the borders of Syria and Iraq, whereas over 165 assaults on U.S. troops have occurred within the area since Oct. 17.
Al Thani beforehand stated he believed the state of affairs within the Center East is “dancing on the sting and able to boil over,” and Baier requested what he meant by that.
“Because the conflict began in Gaza, we’ve been very a lot anxious in regards to the state of affairs within the area as a result of we perceive the magnitude of the Palestinian challenge over there,” he stated, including that he and different leaders in his nation have been anxious that the battle would spill over all through the area, the place there are a number of different forces that might attempt to exploit and escalate the state of affairs.
Al Thani stated Qatar expressed its condolences to the households who misplaced family members and the U.S. authorities, saying it was unacceptable.
“However that is the results of dancing on the sting,” he stated. “It was simply sufficient all through the final 100 and one thing days, attempting to impress right here and there.”
When requested how a lot blame he places instantly on Tehran, Al Thani refused to put any blame on them.
“We aren’t right here able to do the blame sport,” he stated. “Iran is our neighbor. We proceed having open communication with them.”
The international minister stated the 2 international locations will proceed to speak about encouraging all events within the area to de-escalate and convey down the tensions, fairly than escalate tensions.
A clip of former Nationwide Safety Advisor Robert Bryant was proven to Al Thani, by which Bryant stated teams like Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and the Houthis, “wouldn’t shoot a BB gun with out Iran’s approval.”
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Baier requested if he believed that to be true.
“I feel it’s his opinion. Robert’s an incredible good friend. I respect his opinion,” Al Thani stated. “However that is one thing, it’s not for me to evaluate. I feel that what we’ve got to evaluate are the actions, and we’ve got to cease them.”
Baier additionally introduced up an article by the Jerusalem Put up by which the publication wrote it was not clear if Iran’s enablers, Qatar and Turkey, or allies Russia and China, name the photographs in Tehran or have any affect.
The article additionally stated Iran declared it doesn’t management the group, though it might encourage and help actions just like the Houthi motion in Yemen.
Baier requested if Al Thani took challenge with being thought-about an “enabler.”
“… Qatar is a next-door neighbor to Iran,” he stated. “We share borders with them, we share a fuel area with them, the truth is, the most important fuel area on the earth, and our relationship is predicated on frequent pursuits and good neighborhood.”
He was additionally requested whether or not the U.S. ought to push again and retaliate towards these assaults on U.S. troops, and whether or not it could be acceptable for the U.S. to strike again inside Iran.
Al Thani stated Qatar absolutely respects what the U.S. decides to do and the way it could handle the state of affairs, but additionally stated presently, “cooler palms are wanted.”
“We have to outcome to diplomacy and to attempt to include the state of affairs and deal with resolving the difficulty,” the international minister stated.
He was requested once more in regards to the state of affairs boiling over and if he was anxious that the area was a tinderbox.
“The state of affairs may be very regarding and daily it’s getting extra regarding,” Al Thani stated. “Typically it’s a provocation which may find yourself changing into a significant accident that triggers a much bigger battle, and that’s what we wish to keep away from. That’s why we have to deal with tips on how to discover a answer and put a closure on the state of affairs in Gaza.”