Qatar on Tuesday warned that any military escalation between the United States and Iran would have catastrophic consequences for the Middle East and beyond. The warning comes as Washington weighs possible strikes against Tehran following Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. “We know that any escalation would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond, and therefore we want to avoid that as much as possible,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference in Doha.

Doha Playing Mediator 

Al-Ansari said Qatar is actively involved in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two rivals. “We are a party to negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region and resolving disputes between the United States and Iran,” he said, adding that Doha is trying to calm the situation amid expectations that the current standoff could spiral into a wider conflict.

Protests Spread Despite Internet Shutdown

Iran has been gripped by protests sparked by worsening economic conditions, now entering their third week. Demonstrations peaked on January 8, spreading across 27 provinces in 156 separate incidents, before authorities imposed a sweeping internet shutdown.

By January 12, the number of recorded protest locations had dropped to 14 across six provinces, largely due to the communications blackout. However, the Institute for the Study of War said there were indications that protests continued in areas where activity was no longer being officially recorded.

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Iran Acknowledges High Death Toll

An Iranian official told Reuters that about 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed since the unrest began. This marked the first time Iranian authorities acknowledged such a high death toll from the crackdown.

The official blamed what he described as “terrorists” for the deaths of both protesters and security forces but did not provide a detailed breakdown. The protests represent the most serious internal challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership in at least three years. The unrest has unfolded amid rising international pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year. Tehran has accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest, claiming foreign-backed elements have hijacked the demonstrations.

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