A warning has been issued by the Qatari prime minister that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could have devastating consequences for the Persian Gulf and the lives of millions of people in the region. The three desert states on the other side of the gulf, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, rely heavily on desalinated water from the gulf, with over 18 million people solely dependent on it for their drinking water.
The Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, stated that an attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities would lead to a complete loss of life in the gulf, with no water, no fish and no life remaining. This warning comes as US President Donald Trump has announced a renewed effort to negotiate an atomic agreement with Iran, while also reiterating a campaign of maximum pressure to isolate Iran from the global economy and bring its oil exports to zero.
Iran operates a nuclear power plant near the coastal city of Bushehr, on the eastern coast of the Persian Gulf. However, the facilities for producing uranium capable of being used in nuclear weapons are located inland. Qatar is approximately 200 kilometers away from Bushehr.