QATAR PERSPECTIVE

Doha, May 18, 2026. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani tops the list of Gulf leaders cited by Donald Trump to explain his decision to delay a planned military strike against Iran scheduled for May 18. From the columns of Al Jazeera and the Gulf Times, Qatari coverage of this pivotal day places regional mediation at the heart of the narrative, emphasizing the ability of Gulf states to directly influence Washington's decisions.

According to the Gulf Times, Trump stated on Truth Social that he was solicited by Emir Tamim, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to suspend the planned attack. Washington announced that it remains ready to launch 'a comprehensive and large-scale assault against Iran at any time,' in the absence of an acceptable agreement. This formulation illustrates the fragility of the ceasefire established on April 8 after six consecutive weeks of fighting following US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

Al Jazeera reports that Iran transmitted its response to the latest US proposal via Pakistan, mediator since the beginning of the conflict. Tehran demands the release of its frozen assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions, the end of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports – in place since April 13 – and the maintenance of its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that these positions have been 'transmitted to the US side via Pakistan,' without revealing details.

Negotiations are stuck on the nuclear program. Washington presented a five-point list demanding that Iran retain only one operational nuclear site and transfer its highly enriched uranium stock to the US. Tehran responds that its nuclear enrichment rights 'are not negotiable.' A Pakistani source cited by the Gulf Times summarizes the situation: 'Both sides continue to move the red lines. We don't have much time left.'

The editorial published in Al Jazeera on the same May 18 explicitly formulates the Qatari doctrine: Gulf states do not have to choose between Iran and Israel, but between stability and permanent war. The author recalls that an Israeli strike on Doha in September 2026 – in another episode of the same conflict – showed that even a mediation posture does not shield against repercussions.