Doha: Qatari newspapers condemned in their Wednesday editorials the targeting of the Qatari tanker "Al Rekayyat" while it was passing near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. They stressed that the targeting represents a dangerous development, a serious violation of the freedom of international navigation, and a direct threat to the security of global energy supplies, as well as a clear violation of the provisions of international law.
According to Qatar News Agency, the newspapers highlighted the firm and clear position of the State of Qatar, which not only condemned the attack but also took an official diplomatic step by summoning the Iranian deputy ambassador and handing him a protest note confirming Doha's categorical rejection of this behavior, and demanding urgent clarifications and guarantees that it will not be repeated.
Freedom of navigation is not a privilege granted by one country to another, but rather an inherent right guaranteed by international laws and customs, and any infringement upon it opens the door to widespread disruptions affecting the global economy and energy security, the newspapers emphasized.
For its part, Al-Raya newspaper stressed that targeting the Qatari tanker "Al Rekayyat" represents a dangerous development that goes beyond the limits of an isolated incident to affect the foundations of regional stability and the international maritime order. The newspaper emphasized that protecting these passageways is a collective responsibility that cannot be compromised or politicized. From this perspective, the demand to stop practices that threaten the security of the region and the safety of international navigation appears to be a legitimate demand that is consistent with international law, and confirms the need to respect legal obligations, without selectivity or double standards.
Al-Raya implored holding the aggressor fully and legally responsible for the consequences of its actions, reinforcing a clear message that the international community is obligated to defend its fundamental principles and not allow them to be undermined. The stability of the Gulf is not merely a local matter, but a global interest linked to the security of trade, energy, and the economy, the paper added.
Respect for freedom of navigation, safeguarding the security of international waterways, and adherence to international law are all indispensable pillars for ensuring a more stable and secure future, Al-Raya pointed out. Responsibility requires genuine international cooperation that protects rights, prevents the recurrence of such attacks, and strengthens confidence in the legal system.
In turn, Al-Sharq newspaper said the "Iranian aggression" that targeted the Qatari tanker "Al Rekayyat" while it was passing near the Strait of Hormuz constituted a blatant attack on the security and safety of international navigation, a direct threat to the security of energy supplies around the world, and a clear violation of the provisions of international law and the rules of safe passage in international waterways.
The State of Qatar's position was firm in the face of this aggression, holding Tehran fully legally responsible for the attack and its repercussions, the newspaper said. Qatar affirmed its full rights to take whatever measures it deems appropriate in accordance with international law to protect its national interests and assets, which came in the summoning of the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the country and handing him a protest note.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar's strong condemnation and denunciation and stressed that this targeting amounts to a grave violation of the safety of international navigation, a direct threat to global energy supply security, and a clear and flagrant breach of international law, the newspaper pointed out.
Concluding its editorial, Al-Sharq noted that the protest note included a demand for Tehran to provide an urgent explanation for the attack, to take immediate steps to prevent its recurrence, and fully comply with the relevant rules by international laws. This Iranian aggression and reckless behavior comes at a very sensitive time, as the State of Qatar, along with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is leading intensive diplomatic mediation efforts to implement the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran.