ISTANBUL 

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on Iran Wednesday to halt attacks on countries of the region during a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Araghchi informed the Qatari premier during the call that “the missile strikes were directed at American interests and were not intended to target the Gulf state.”

Sheikh Mohammed, for his part, “categorically rejected” the Iranian assertion, citing that “civilian and residential areas inside the country were struck by the attacks.”

He said that the targeted areas included the vicinity of Hamad International Airport, vital infrastructure, and industrial zones that include liquefied natural gas production facilities.

The Qatari prime minister noted that the attacks were not limited to missiles alone, but included drone strikes and airspace violations.

These Iranian actions reflected "an escalatory approach and did not indicate any genuine desire for de-escalation or resolution,” he said, accusing Tehran of “seeking to harm its neighbors and draw them into a war that is not theirs.”

He called for an “immediate” halt to Iranian attacks on regional states “that have sought to remain outside the conflict,” urging all sides to “prioritize the broader interests of their peoples.”

Israel and the US have continued a large-scale attack on Iran since Saturday, killing nearly 900 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Gulf countries which are home to US assets.