David Blair: Iran’s Khamenei is playing with fire by striking at his neighbour Qatar

A demonstrator holds a poster depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in solidarity with Iran. Photo: Reuters

David Blair
©Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd

Of all the Gulf monarchies, Qatar’s supremely pragmatic rulers have carefully maintained the least poisonous relationship with Iran. Yet that counted for little yesterday as Iranian missiles streaked across the sky above the Qatari capital Doha.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have bitter experience of attack from Iranian-supplied missiles, usually launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was the first time that Qatar has ever been targeted − and that simple fact demonstrates a clear and dangerous Iranian decision to escalate.