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ConflictsMiddle East

Iran launches retaliatory strike at US base in Qatar

Published June 23, 2025last updated June 24, 2025

Iran has responded to US strikes over the weekend with its own strikes against Al Udeid air base in Qatar. Meanwhile, Israel has said it is carrying out strikes in Iran with "unprecedented intensity." DW has more.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wIx6
US Al Udeid air base in Qatar
Iran said it launched a strike on the US' Al Udeid air base in QatarImage: Planet Labs PBC/Planet Labs PBC/AP/dpa/picture alliance
Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • Iran said it fired missiles at a US base in Qatar

  • Earlier, Qatar closed its airspace amid threats of Iranian retaliation for US strikes on Iran

  • Iran has said its military was deciding on 'timing, nature, scale' of response to US strikes on nuclear facilities

  • Israel's defense secretary said the IDF hit Evin Prison in Tehran among numerous other targets

  • US President Donald Trump suggests regime change in Tehran to 'Make Iran Great Again'

This blog, with the latest developments on the Israel-Iran conflict and the wider crisis in the Middle East on Monday, June 23, has now been closed. We're covering thelatest news here.

Skip next section Trump claims Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire
June 24, 2025

Trump claims Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as tensions remain high in the region. Follow the news on the announcement here.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wM23
Skip next section Qatar reopens airspace following Iranian strike on US base
June 23, 2025

Qatar reopens airspace following Iranian strike on US base

Qatar has reopened its airspace, the country's civil aviation authority announced early on Tuesday, hours after Iran struck the US Al Udeid air base there.

"The General Civil Aviation Authority announces the resumption of air traffic in the airspace of the State of Qatar and the return of the atmosphere to normal," it said in a statement on X.

The Qatari airspace was closed shortly before the US air base was struck, a move described by authorities as a "precautionary measure" at the time.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wM0Q
Skip next section UN chief calls for de-escalation from all sides
June 23, 2025

UN chief calls for de-escalation from all sides

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was "deeply alarmed" by Iranian strikes on Al Udeid base in Qatar, his spokesman said on Monday.

In a statement on the UN website, Stephane Dujarric cited Guterres as saying that the UN chief has repeatedly "condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including today's attack by Iran on the territory of Qatar."

Guterres called for "all parties to stop fighting" once again. "The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law," Dujarric said.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wM0A
Skip next section Iran says ready to respond to any new US attack
June 23, 2025

Iran says ready to respond to any new US attack

The Iranian airstrikes on a US base in Qatar were in response to US strikes on three nuclear plants in Iran the day before, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"Iran's missile attack on Al-Udeid military base was a response to America's blatant aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying by his ministry. 

Araghchi was quoted as saying that Iran would be ready to respond again "in the event of any further action by the US."

Araghchi's statements were made to Rashid Meredov, the foreign minister of Turkmenistan, during a visit to Ashgabat, the ministry said.

The Iranian top diplomat condemned the "illegality" of the Israeli and US strikes on his country, calling them "unjustified."

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLz7
Skip next section German defense ministry monitoring situation in Middle East
June 23, 2025

German defense ministry monitoring situation in Middle East

Germany's Defense Ministry says it is "continuously monitoring the security situation" in the Middle East. 

Bundeswehr troops deployed in the region are safe, the ministry said after the Iranian strike on the US air base in Qatar. 

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is in regular contact with all troops contingents.

Germany has deployed troops as part of international missions in the region, including Iraq where it assists security forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLyN
Skip next section Trump thanks Iran for 'early notice' of attack on US air base
June 23, 2025

Trump thanks Iran for 'early notice' of attack on US air base

President Donald Trump said he hoped Iran had "gotten it all out of their system" after the country launched a limited missile attack at a US airbase in Qatar in response to the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites.

"Perhaps Iran can now proceed to peace and harmony in the region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same," Trump wrote on his Truth social platform.

The US leader described Iran's response as "very weak but thanked the country for "giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured."

"I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded," Trump wrote in a follow-up post. 

In a third post, Trump wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!"

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLxu
Skip next section WATCH — 'Face-saving reaction' by Iran
June 23, 2025

WATCH — 'Face-saving reaction' by Iran

Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a US military base in Qatar did not come as a surprise, says journalist Karim el-Gahwary.

Iranians gave advance warning to both Qatar and the US, showing that the Iranians are not really interested in escalating the situation, he explained.

Qatar strikes a 'face-saving reaction' by Iran

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLwW
Skip next section Gulf states condemn Iranian attack on Qatar
June 23, 2025

Gulf states condemn Iranian attack on Qatar

All of the Gulf States have condemned the Iranian missile attack on the US Al Udeid air base in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia condemned the attack as a "flagrant violation," saying it is "an entirely unacceptable act that cannot be justified under any circumstances," a Foreign Ministry statement said. 

The United Arab Emirates has also condemned the attack and called for a diplomatic solution as "serious dialogue is the only way to overcome the current crises and preserve the security and stability of the region and the safety of its people."

Bahrain called for "concerted efforts to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and resolve disputes through peaceful means.

Meanwhile, Kuwait called the attack a "dangerous escalation that threatens peace."

Oman warned it could lead to further escalation in the region.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLwR
Skip next section Iran's ambassador defends nuclear program
June 23, 2025

Iran's ambassador defends nuclear program

In an interview with DW, Iran's ambassador to Germany, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, reiterated Tehran's stance that its nuclear program is peaceful and rooted in national pride.

"Iran is not in favor of nuclear weapons at all," he said. 

However, he declined, when pressed, to clarify the purpose of Iran's stockpile of over 400kg of 60% enriched uranium, an amount that has drawn serious concern from the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

"Having enrichment material, uranium enrichment material doesn't mean nuclear weapons," he said. 

Nili Ahmadabadi condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as violations of international law and defended Iran's right to respond. 

The interview was conducted before Iran's latest strikes on the US airbase in Qatar. 

Nuclear enrichment a matter of 'dignity': Iranian ambassador

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLv6
Skip next section Vast majority of Americans concerned about escalation — Reuters poll
June 23, 2025

Vast majority of Americans concerned about escalation — Reuters poll

The majority of Americans are concerned about a further escalation in the conflict with Iran, according to a new poll published by Reuters on Monday.

Some 84% of respondents said they were worried in general about the growing conflict while 79% said they were worried "that Iran may target US civilians in response to the US airstrikes."

The poll surveyed 1,139 US adults over three days, ending on Monday.

Only 32% of respondents said they supported a continuation of US bombing of Iran compared to 49% against. Among Republicans support was higher, reaching 62% in support of further strikes and 22% opposed.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLuO
Skip next section US confirms Iran missile strike, no injuries reported
June 23, 2025

US confirms Iran missile strike, no injuries reported

The US military says there were no injuries or deaths resulting from Iran's attack on its Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

A US defense official said the base was attacked with short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles.

Earlier, Qatar's Defense Ministry said its air defenses had intercepted the missiles.

The US said it was continuing to monitor the situation.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLso
Skip next section Macron calls for end to 'sprial of chaos' after Qatar attack
June 23, 2025

Macron calls for end to 'sprial of chaos' after Qatar attack

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed French "solidarity" with Qatar following the Iranian strikes on the US Al Udeid air base.

He said in a post on X that he was in contact with Qatari authorities and other partners in the region.

"I call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, to de-escalate and to return to the negotiating table," he said.

"The spiral of chaos has to end."

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLsm
Skip next section Airline passengers warned of disruptions at Doha and Dubai
June 23, 2025

Airline passengers warned of disruptions at Doha and Dubai

Airports in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have warned airline passengers of further delays after Iran's attack on the Al Udeid US military air base in Qatar.

Both countries closed their airspace and diverted planes during the attack.

Some of the world's largest international airlines, including Emirates, Qatar and Etihad, have been avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel since Israel first launched strikes. They have their hubs in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, respectively 

Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have written on their websites that passengers may experience delays, cancellations, or diversions. 

Meanwhile, Doha International Airport said it was working "with government stakeholders and airline partners to cater to passengers that have been impacted."

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLse
Skip next section Macron says US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities lack 'legality'
June 23, 2025

Macron says US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities lack 'legality'

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the US strikes that hit several nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend had "no framework of legality," but said he supported efforts to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

"There is no framework of legality in these strikes, even if France shares the objective not to see Iran acquire nuclear weapons," he told reporters during a press conference in Oslo alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

He rejected calls for regime change in Iran, saying: "I believe in the sovereignty of peoples and territorial integrity ... so I don't think we can take the place of a people to change its leaders."

The French president also criticized Israel's strikes on Evin prison, saying they "put the lives of Iranian and foreign civilians in danger."

Two French citizens are currently being held in Evin prison. The French Foreign Ministry said they had not been harmed in the strikes.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLlV
Skip next section Bahrain and Kuwait close airspace
June 23, 2025

Bahrain and Kuwait close airspace

After Iran said it had struck a US base in Qatar, other countries in the Persian Gulf region have begun closing their airspace.

Bahrain and Kuwait said they had temporarily closed their airspace as a precautionary measure.

Bahrain's Ministry of Transport said it was closely monitoring the situation while Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it was suspending air traffic until further notice.

https://p.dw.com/p/4wLsB
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