Iran alerted the US and Doha hours before attacks on Qatar, says senior regional source.

Iran alerted the US and Doha hours before attacks on Qatar, says senior regional source.

Qatar's Foreign Minister, Majed Al Ansari, confirmed that Iran attempted to strike the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base on Monday, with Qatar's air defenses successfully intercepting the Iranian missiles [1]. The attack was condemned by Qatar as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. The incident occurred after reports of explosions in Qatar's capital, Doha, and the temporary closure of its airspace due to security concerns [3].

The broader markets reacted to the news, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) trading flat and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) slipping 0.13%. The Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (QQQ), which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, remained in the green, up 0.1% [1].

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that Iran would not leave the U.S. invasion unanswered, while the country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called the U.S. strike a "grave mistake" [3]. Iran has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites [2].

The U.S. and Israel have been involved in a series of strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, with the U.S. using B-2 stealth bombers to target Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday [2]. This escalation has raised concerns about the stability of the Middle East region and the potential for further retaliation from Iran.

Investors should closely monitor developments in the Middle East, as geopolitical tensions and military actions can significantly impact global markets and energy prices. The U.S. and its allies are expected to maintain a strong stance against Iran, while Iran may continue to escalate its threats and actions in response.

References:
[1] https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/qatar-confirms-iran-tried-to-strike-us-air-base/chm5aQvRRd5
[2] https://www.cnbctv18.com/photos/world/iran-threatens-npt-exit-after-us-b-2-strike-what-the-treaty-means-and-why-it-matters-19625182.htm
[3] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/explosions-heard-in-qatar-home-to-u-s-airbase-amid-iranian-threats-to-retaliate-for-strike-on-nuclear-sites