In Qatar, one of the main targets was the U.S. Central Command’s Al Udeid base. Three strikes were reported at the site, from which sensitive equipment and aircraft had been evacuated earlier. Qatar also announced the closure of its airspace. Israeli assessments suggest that 10 missiles were fired at American bases in Qatar.
Watch footage from Qatar:
Skyline of Doha some minutes ago.
Qatar pic.twitter.com/ffVvwjOZcB
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 23, 2025
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated: “We strongly condemn the Iranian attack. This is a violation of Qatari sovereignty. Qatar reserves the right to respond.” According to their claims, there were no casualties in the attack.
CNN reported that Iran used short- and medium-range missiles in the attack on the base in Qatar.
No American Response Expected
As there were no casualties in Qatar, The New York Times reported that President Trump does not intend to respond to the Iranian attack.
President Trump first ignored the Iranian strike, posting that: “The sites that we hit in Iran were totally destroyed, and everyone knows it”, referring to reports to the contrary on various news outlets.
He later posted a lengthy response to the attack, noting 14 missiles were fired with no damage done. He wryly thanked Iran for the early notice and hoped they had “gotten it all out of their “system,””, closing with “Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
He shortly afterwards posted to thank the Qatari Emir, noting that “very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded”.
Finally, he posted:
Attempting to Prevent Escalation
Israeli officials assessed that Iran planned a measured response aimed at “closing the incident,” similar to its approach after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani in 2020. However, a senior Iranian regime official warned in an interview with CNN: “The U.S. cannot hide behind Israel – if it joins the war, it will pay a price. The fighting could last two years.”
Amid the threats, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar urged its citizens to stay in safe areas. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry claimed there is “no direct threat” but emphasized that the country is prepared for any scenario.
Diplomacy Under Fire
Despite the missile launches, Iran is signaling a desire return to a diplomatic path. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Moscow yesterday and met with President Putin and other senior officials. According to Tehran, the visit is taking place “in anticipation of Russian support, both in the Security Council and regionally.”
Araghchi said at a press conference in Turkey: “The door to diplomacy must remain open – but this is not the time. The U.S. crossed a red line by bombing the nuclear facilities. We will respond under the right of self-defense. When the aggression stops – we will return to dialogue.”
Three Senior Iranian Officials: Attack Was Pre-Planned to Avoid Escalation
Three senior Iranian officials familiar with the details of the recent attack told The New York Times shortly after the incident this evening (Monday) that Tehran issued an early warning prior to the strike in order to minimize casualties. According to them, the attack was intended to be “symbolic” and to convey a message of retaliation to the U.S., but it was pre-planned to allow all parties to avoid further escalation.
Simultaneously, a regional official told Reuters that Iran had warned the U.S. through two diplomatic channels hours before the attack.
