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"The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the United States, Israel and Iran to avoid any escalation that could further destabilise the region, as President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to agree to a deal nears. Spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari, speaking at a press conference in Doha on Tuesday, warned that the region is already edging toward a broader crisis. "We are urging all parties to refrain from any escalation that would harm not only the security situation in the region, but also the environmental and humanitarian situation," he said. "The attacks on critical infrastructure since the war has begun have taken us to the brink, and we don't want to see more of that happening. There are serious risks to food security, water security and environmental stability, and we are already at the threshold of these challenges," he added. He said multiple 'red lines' had already been crossed during the conflict, including attacks on critical infrastructure and civilians, as well as the risk of wider regional entanglement. "We cannot consider this to be just narrative or just propaganda," he said. "We have seen this materialise in the past weeks, and we know that we will see this happen if such escalations take place." The spokesperson also reiterated Qatar's support for mediation efforts led by Pakistan and other countries to reach a resolution before the situation further escalates. Trump has warned that the United States could target Iranian energy infrastructure and bridges if a ceasefire is not reached by 20:00 EST on Tuesday. "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again," Trump wrote on social media. "I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, [...] maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?" "We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end," the statement added. Critics, even in the US media, accused him of threatening 'war crimes' against civilian infrastructure and targets. Iran's navy said that "the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its former state, especially for America and Israel". Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that 'restraint is over,' while a government spokesperson said the country would stand against foreign aggression 'as long as needed.' Iran added that it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the basis of 'empty promises,' warning that attacks on its power plants could plunge much of the region into darkness. It further cautioned that, if the conflict escalates, its allies could also move to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Tensions have escalated across the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, amid diplomatic talks aimed at curbing 'Iran's nuclear and missile programmes'. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes on Israel and US assets in the region, with reports of explosions in several Gulf countries. Iran later confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with his son Mojtaba Khamenei named as his successor."
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