Qatar maintains open communication channels with Washington and is urging the US to use diplomatic tools to exit the current crisis, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi told Al Jazeera.

According to him, "the path to peace" and a return to the negotiating table are critically important. Al-Khulaifi emphasized that Qatar is not only maintaining contact and advocating diplomacy, but also raising with its US partners the issue of attacks on Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council states.

"We always keep the line of communication with our US colleagues open and continue to encourage and support the path of peace and peaceful conflict resolution. We sincerely hope the parties can find that path, stop military action, and return to the negotiating table to address all concerns," the minister said.

Al-Khulaifi recalled that Iran began retaliatory strikes on US facilities and infrastructure in several Gulf states on February 28, following the start of the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran.

Qatar condemned Iranian attacks on its territory and confirmed its right to self-defense, with the minister praising the country's security forces for intercepting missile and drone attacks. He warned that Iranian aggression "benefits no one" and is "damaging" to the historically close relations between the countries, and expressed concern that Iran may be targeting Qatar, which has a long history of mediation and conflict resolution.

Al-Khulaifi also noted that the expansion of the conflict threatens global market stability and energy supplies, stressing that GCC security is global security, as the region is involved in energy infrastructure, international trade, and diplomacy.

"Qatar has not attacked and will not attack neighboring countries. This is a matter of principle. We are only exercising our right to self-defense and will continue to use all legitimate measures to protect our territory and our people," al-Khulaifi emphasized.