Warning: This report contains accounts of sexual assault and violence that some readers may find distressing. Ramia was preparing for a family picnic, on a warm summer day in her village in Latakia province in western Syria, when a white car drove up, she said
Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in the national capital. Pichai is here for the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 and will deliver the keynote address on February 20 at the summit. New Delhi: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra
The back-and-forth between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association has taken another turn. On Tuesday afternoon, the WNBPA submitted a new counterproposal, only to have it shot down yet again by the league, as negotiations intensify ahead of the new season
The leadership has made it clear that performance and public perception will be key criteria in deciding nominations The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for a major organisational overhaul in Assam ahead of the assembly elections
Political and strategic considerations will overshadow economic ones in the choices that countries make going forward, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). Speaking at the Global Economic Cooperation 2026 summit organised by the Future Economic Cooperation
Why Qatar is racing to act as a bridge in US-Iran crisis that threatens Gulf?
Explained: Why Qatar is racing to act as a bridge in US-Iran crisis that threatens Gulf?
Qatar is playing a crucial mediating role between the US and Iran as tensions escalate, using its unique ties with both sides to prevent military confrontation. Its diplomacy aims to protect Gulf security, energy stability, and regional order amid rising US-Iran hostilities.
The confrontation between the United States and Iran has moved into a dangerous new phase. What was once a contest managed through proxy battles, sanctions, and careful signalling has increasingly spilled into direct military action. US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by Tehran's measured but unmistakable retaliation across the region, have stripped away many of the restraints that once kept tensions from tipping into open conflict.
For Gulf states, this shift is not a distant strategic problem. Any US-Iran clash would unfold on their doorstep, placing their security, energy infrastructure, and economic stability directly at risk. It is against this backdrop that Qatar's diplomacy between Washington and Tehran should be understood. Doha's role is not about sitting on the fence. It is a calculated effort to prevent escalation in a region where even limited fighting can quickly spiral out of control.
Periods of intense US-Iran tension have always carried regional consequences, but recent developments have sharpened the stakes. Following waves of protests inside Iran, which, by various estimates, resulted in the deaths of several thousand people, relations between Tehran and Washington hardened further. President Donald Trump's public threat to intervene on behalf of protesters added another layer of volatility, increasing fears in the Gulf that internal unrest in Iran could intersect with external military pressure.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
The geography of the Gulf leaves little room for error. Energy facilities are densely concentrated, shipping lanes are narrow, and security relationships are tightly interlinked. Even a short exchange of strikes risks disrupting oil and gas flows, endangering civilian populations, and pulling neighbouring states into the crisis. For Qatar, whose economy and security are closely tied to regional stability, de-escalation has therefore become a strategic necessity rather than a diplomatic preference.
Over the years, Doha has built a reputation as a discreet and credible intermediary between adversaries who no longer trust one another. Its sustained ties with Tehran, combined with its strategic partnership with Washington, including hosting US forces at Al Udeid airbase, place Qatar in a rare position. When direct communication becomes politically toxic, Qatar has been able to keep channels open, allowing messages to pass and misunderstandings to be clarified before they harden into confrontation.
This approach has delivered tangible results. Qatar's mediation was most clearly on display in September 2023, when it helped broker a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, alongside the release of frozen Iranian funds for humanitarian use. The deal took months of indirect negotiations, careful sequencing, and reassurance on both sides. It did not signal a broader thaw in relations, but it demonstrated that limited agreements remain possible even amid deep hostility, provided a trusted intermediary is available.
For Doha, such efforts are not symbolic. They reflect a consistent belief that coercion alone cannot manage the Iranian nuclear issue or wider US-Iran tensions. Qatar has long argued that dialogue, however slow and imperfect, is the only sustainable way to contain risks and avoid unintended escalation. This does not mean overlooking Iranian regional behaviour or ignoring proliferation concerns. Rather, it reflects a sober assessment of costs: military action may weaken Iran in the short term, but it also carries unpredictable consequences that could destabilise the entire region.
That calculation was put to the test in June 2025, when Iran launched a calibrated missile strike on the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, a Qatari military facility hosting US forces, in response to American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Despite being directly affected, Doha moved swiftly to engage both Washington and Tehran. Through urgent outreach and established communication channels, Qatar played a role in broader efforts that helped support a fragile ceasefire, which has largely held since. The episode underlined both the risks Gulf states face and the trust placed in Qatari diplomacy during moments of crisis.
The alternative to restraint is stark. A military campaign aimed at overthrowing Iran's leadership would almost certainly produce consequences far beyond Iran's borders. Internally, such pressure risks state collapse, fragmentation of authority, and the reawakening of ethnic and sectarian tensions within a complex society of more than 80 million people. Externally, the fallout could include mass displacement towards neighbouring countries, severe disruption to maritime security, and turmoil in global energy markets. For Gulf states, these outcomes would be costly, destabilising, and difficult to contain.
Recent regional shifts have already altered the strategic landscape. Since the October 7 attacks and the conflicts that followed, Iran's network of allied non-state actors has come under sustained pressure. Several elements of the so-called “axis of resistance” have been weakened militarily and politically, limiting Tehran's ability to project influence in some theatres. At the same time, US strikes in June 2025 dispelled any lingering doubt about Washington's willingness to hit Iranian territory directly and target its nuclear enrichment capabilities.
Yet from a Gulf perspective, escalation now offers diminishing returns. Weakening Iran's regional influence does not automatically produce stability, especially if pursued through strategies that risk chaos or state failure. For Gulf capitals, the priority is not dramatic regime change in Tehran, but the prevention of disorder that would spill across borders and unsettle already fragile regional balances.
This view is no longer confined to Doha. In recent years, Qatar's approach has increasingly aligned with those of Saudi Arabia and Oman, both of which have invested heavily in dialogue with Tehran and confidence-building measures. Their efforts to communicate the risks of military escalation to the Trump administration reflected a broader regional mood: one that favours containment and engagement over confrontation. That convergence is striking, given the political differences that have historically divided Gulf states.
Qatar's mediation does not promise sweeping breakthroughs. Its impact is often quiet and incremental, measured in crises that do not happen rather than deals that dominate headlines. But by keeping lines of communication open, facilitating limited agreements and discouraging maximalist strategies, Doha seeks to reduce the risk of miscalculation at a time when tensions are running high.
In a region shaped by repeated cycles of conflict, the value of de-escalation is easily overlooked. It lacks the drama of military action and the clarity of deterrence. Yet as Qatar's engagement between Washington and Tehran shows, diplomacy, however restrained and imperfect, remains one of the few tools capable of preventing local crises from turning into regional catastrophes. For Gulf states that would bear the costs of war long after the shooting stops, that role is not just useful. It is essential.
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Trump, Netanyahu agreed US should press Iran to cut oil sales to China US-Iran likely to hold nuclear deal talks on Feb 17 in Geneva Trump And Netanyahu Agreed US Should Increase Pressure On Iran Over Oil Exports To China Iran open to nuclear deal compromises if U Iran Foreign Minister in Geneva for second round of U Raveena Tandon On Rejecting Rani Mukerji's Role In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai India seizes Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers Trump asks Iran to be ‘reasonable’ in next round of talks over nuclear deal India intercepts US-sanctioned Iran-linked tankers in Mumbai raid US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran
For the fourth time in less than two weeks, a sea of red and blue descended on the Wankhede Stadium. And it turned out to be a case of fourth-time lucky for Nepal as it ended its T20 World Cup sojourn by gifting the 19,000-odd fans a much-anticipated win against Scotland
8 hours ago
An avalanche in California's Lake Tahoe region has left 10 backcountry skiers missing, authorities say, with six more people stranded and awaiting rescue. The avalanche was reported about 11:30PST (19:30GMT) in the Castle Peak area near the town of Truckee
8 hours ago
One of the biggest changes is the renumbering of several commonly used tax documents, including salary and tax-credit statements used by millions of taxpayers. New Delhi: The government has proposed major changes to income-tax compliance forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025
8 hours ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón at Hyderabad House in New Delhi amid high-level engagements at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026. The meeting between the two leaders followed President Sanchez’s arrival in the national
8 hours ago
Pakistan's water crisis to worsen with approaching summers as India plans to halt excess Ravi river water flow to Pakistan with the completion of Shahpur Kandi barrage. Pakistan’s water crisis is deepening amid the Indus Waters Treaty suspension and is not going to end soon
8 hours ago
Warner Bros Discovery is in talks with Paramount Skydance Corp. for a potential takeover. The Ellison family's bid has seen a slight increase. Warner boss David Zaslav is negotiating to secure the best possible deal for shareholders. Paramount needs to address remaining concerns to surpass
8 hours ago
Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur had been together for several years, officially registered their marriage on February 14, 2022, before hosting a traditional wedding ceremony on February 18, of the same year. New Delhi: Actor Vikrant Massey marked his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal
8 hours ago
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron met Bollywood stars in Mumbai, the delegation will travel to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Mumbai: Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej met French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday
8 hours ago
The United States has significantly increased its military presence in West Asia, deploying dozens of fighter jets to the region amid rising tensions with Iran and ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva. The developments come alongside strong warnings from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah
8 hours ago
A widespread YouTube outage on Tuesday disrupted video access worldwide, including India and the US. YouTube suffered a widespread outage on Tuesday, halting video access for users across multiple countries, including India and the United States
8 hours ago
Tech giant Microsoft on Wednesday announced at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi that the company is on pace to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help the Global South access artificial intelligence (AI)."Our five-part program is designed to make AI diffusion real at scale
8 hours ago
A massive wildfire emergency has unfolded across the US Plains. In the northwestern part of Oklahoma, a fast-moving fire on the southwest side of Woodward forced evacuations on Tuesday. Wind gusts near 60 mph pushed flames through the red cedar-filled neighbourhoods
8 hours ago
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday claimed that then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked him to decide on the date for his swearing in as CM when 58 party MLAs had supported him back in 2014. Sharing what he called his “days of distress" in the Congress
8 hours ago
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called the AI Summit a disorganized PR spectacle. He alleged that Chinese products were displayed at the event. This comes amid controversy over a robotic dog at the summit. Critics claim it was a Chinese-made product, not an Indian innovation
8 hours ago
The Delhi Traffic Police has launched a dedicated ‘Digital Lok Adalat’ system to make the traffic challan settlement easier for the citizens, making the process quicker and more convenient. This initiative, introduced in collaboration with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and
8 hours ago
India is discussing age-based restrictions with social media companies, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tuesday, following moves by Australia and other countries to ban young teens from popular platforms. Vaishnaw, speaking at a global artificial intelligence conference in New Delhi
8 hours ago
Gold Rate Today: Gold retreats from record highs as 24K prices fall and futures dip on MCX. Check today’s city-wise rates and expert insights. Gold Rate Today: Gold prices have taken a breather after scaling record highs, with fresh data showing a noticeable dip in both domestic and global
8 hours ago
A new leak has offered a closer look at the upcoming Infinix GT 50 Pro, pointing to design changes and hardware upgrades over last year’s gaming-focused model. The smartphone, from Infinix, has surfaced in alleged renders alongside a detailed specification sheet shared by tipsters online
8 hours ago
Nissan Gravite vs Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: The Gravite’s smaller engine may feel underpowered, particularly when the car is loaded with seven people and luggage. In contrast, the Ertiga’s larger engine make it more practical for real-world family use and long-distance driving
8 hours ago
Ameesha Patel has been issued a non-bailable warrant by a Moradabad court in connection with a 2017 fraud case, she is accused of accepting money for a wedding performance and issuing a cheque that later bounced. Legal trouble has resurfaced for Ameesha Patel as a Moradabad court issued a
8 hours ago
The Ministry of Education on Tuesday organised a special session titled “Ministry of Education – Pushing the Frontier of AI in India" at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the session
8 hours ago
The reactor involved was Ward 250, which belongs to a new class of compact microreactors. Washington: The United States has carried out an operation that has drawn global attention in the field of advanced energy technology. A nuclear reactor moved through the sky
8 hours ago
Beyond the mines: Archaeologists uncover a massive 3,000-year-old gold processing city in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. Discover the ancient smelting furnaces, residential districts, and the 628 'Ostraca' library fragments rewriting history.Beyond the mines: Archaeologists uncover a massive 3
8 hours ago
Even as debate around AI intensifies across industries, concerns about the technology are also growing. In an interview with CNN-News18 at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales discusses artificial intelligence, misinformation risks, open-source innovation
8 hours ago
PAK vs NAM live streaming, match time, broadcasters and weather update as Pakistan fight for Super 8 qualification. Pakistan face Namibia in a high-stakes ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash on February 18 at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, with Super 8 qualification hanging in the balance
8 hours ago
Salim Khan Health Updates: On Tuesday night, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was seen leaving the Lilavati Hospital where his 90-year-old father and veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been admitted following complaints of swelling. The actor stepped out of the hospital premises late at night and
8 hours ago
New Delhi: Massive traffic congestion hit several parts of the national capital as global leaders arrived for the high level AI summit. New Delhi: Heavy traffic congestion was reported across several key routes in the national capital as global leaders arrived to attend the high-profile AI summit
8 hours ago
