Islamabad, June 23, 2025: Qatar Halts Air Traffic temporarily on Monday as a “precautionary measure,” dramatically escalating regional tensions after Iran vowed “serious, unpredictable consequences” for recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities. The move comes amid growing fears of a wider conflict following the coordinated US and Israeli attacks on three key Iranian nuclear sites.
The Gulf state, located just 190 kilometers south of Iran and home to the largest US military base in the region at Al Udeid, has become a focal point for security concerns. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed the airspace closure, stating authorities are “closely monitoring the situation in coordination with regional and international partners.”
In response to the heightened risk, the US Embassy in Doha issued a stark warning to American citizens, urging them to “shelter in place” and avoid unnecessary movement. British and Canadian embassies quickly followed suit, echoing the US advisory.
Iran’s armed forces had issued a severe warning on Monday, promising unspecified retaliation for the US involvement in the strikes on its nuclear program. This threat has triggered a wave of precautionary measures across the Gulf.
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Neighboring Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, also announced a temporary shift to remote work for some embassy staff and advised most government employees to work from home due to “regional circumstances.”
Despite the widespread alerts, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari sought to reassure the public via X (formerly Twitter), stating that embassy warnings “do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats.” He added, “Qatar continues to exert intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. The security situation in the state remains stable.”
The US State Department has also broadly advised Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Following Israel’s initial strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had already urged staff and citizens to limit non-essential travel, particularly to Al Udeid Air Base.
As of Monday evening, Qatar’s airspace remained closed. Authorities have not provided a timeline for the resumption of normal air traffic. Qatar Halts Air Traffic leaving the Gulf region on high alert as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation.
