Qatar calls for ‘peaceful situation’ as Iran looks for allies amid Trump pressure over economic unrest

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Tuesday expressed Doha’s support for “all efforts aiming to de-escalate and peaceful solutions” in West Asia, following a phone call from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.

According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which shared details on X, Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s backing for initiatives that enhance security and stability across the region during the conversation.

The two officials reviewed bilateral cooperation and explored ways to support and strengthen relations. They also discussed the latest regional developments and addressed a number of issues of mutual interest.

Iran protests and international pressure

The call comes amid widespread anti-government protests in Iran that, according to some estimates, have resulted in several thousand deaths. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to continue protesting and take over their institutions, saying, “Help is on its way.”

The unrest, driven by dire economic conditions, has presented the biggest internal challenge to Iran’s clerical rulers in at least three years and coincides with intensifying international pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year.

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Trump announces tariffs, warns of further action

On Monday evening, Trump announced 25% import tariffs on products from any country doing business with Iran, a major oil exporter. He has also said further military action is among the options being considered to punish Iran over the crackdown, stating earlier this month, “we are locked and loaded”.

On Tuesday, Trump warned of unspecified “very strong action” if Iranian authorities proceed with threatened hangings of some protesters. Tehran described the American warnings as a “pretext for military intervention”.

Rights groups raise alarm; Iran responds

International outrage has mounted over the crackdown, with a rights group saying it has likely killed thousands during protests that pose one of the most significant challenges yet to Iran’s clerical leadership.

Iran’s UN mission posted a statement on X, vowing that Washington’s “playbook” would “fail again”.

“US fantasies and policy toward Iran are rooted in regime change, with sanctions, threats, engineered unrest, and chaos serving as the modus operandi to manufacture a pretext for military intervention,” the post said.

Iranian authorities have insisted they have regained control after successive nights of nationwide mass protests since Thursday. Rights groups, however, accuse the government of fatally shooting protesters and concealing the scale of the crackdown through an internet blackout that has now exceeded five days.

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Capital charges and warnings over executions

Trump, who earlier told Iranian protesters that “help is on its way”, told CBS News that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters.

Tehran prosecutors said capital charges of “moharebeh”, or “waging war against God”, would be pursued against some suspects arrested over recent demonstrations.

“We will take very strong action if they do such a thing,” the American leader said, repeating threats of military intervention.

“When they start killing thousands of people – and now you’re telling me about hanging. We’ll see how that’s going to work out for them,” Trump added.

New videos on social media, with locations verified by AFP, showed bodies lined up at the Kahrizak morgue south of Tehran, wrapped in black bags, as distraught relatives searched for loved ones.

International phone links were restored on Tuesday, but only for outgoing calls, according to an AFP journalist. The quality remained poor, with frequent interruptions.