Iran and Qatar: The Two-Headed Snake of Global Jihad
'Maximum Pressure' Won't Work without Addressing Qatar
The global jihad and state-sponsored terrorism are being shaped by two nations—Iran and Qatar—that exert deep influence over terror networks, threatening global stability. These two countries form a toxic alliance, supporting extremist movements like Hamas, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while quietly infiltrating and manipulating international systems through money, diplomacy, and strategic leverage. Iran and Qatar have been key players in keeping jihadist movements alive.
Qatar claims to be a "friendly" partner to the West, but in reality, Qatar has been funding terrorism worldwide, directly supporting groups like Hamas, the Taliban, and even Al-Qaeda. Until now, the U.S. has turned a blind eye to Qatar’s role in aiding these groups, all while continuing to treat the country as an ally. In 2019, the U.S. State Department launched an inquiry into Qatar's involvement with the IRGC, only for the investigation to lead to no meaningful consequences. Qatar has long been able to maintain this dangerous double game, using its relationships with Western powers to shield itself from accountability.
The financial collaboration between Iran and Qatar, particularly through their joint control of the South Pars/North Dome gas field, has been a crucial lifeline for Iran's nuclear ambitions, now extracting more gas than Qatar in the shared offshore has field. The vast profits from this resource allow Iran to bypass Western sanctions and continue its nuclear program, with Qatar’s role as a key enabler. As the two countries strengthen their economic ties, Qatar’s financial contributions are effectively funding Iran’s nuclear goals, while also helping Tehran to support jihadist proxy groups that destabilize the region.
Qatar's complicity in terrorism goes back decades, and its actions in the 1990s further cement its troubling legacy and their complicity with the 9/11 attacks.
A plea bargain, which was rescinded by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, brought to light new and old documents about KSM's role in terrorist attacks against the U.S. and other countries while working as an employee of the state of Qatar. The documents also reveal that Qatar facilitated KSM's activities and his escape from arrest by the FBI. Before 9/11, Qatar provided refuge to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the mastermind behind the attacks. Despite U.S. arrest warrants, Qatar ensured KSM’s escape by offering him false passports, allowing him to evade justice.
The ruling Hamadein family in Qatar has spent billions protecting terrorists, using fraudulent passports and altered visa laws to shield extremists. Qatar’s e-passport system has enabled the smuggling of individuals linked to terrorism into Europe, issuing over 300 passports weekly to fugitives. Among those smuggled are 15 Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including Mohamed Mahsoub, Jamal Heshmat, and Tarek Suidan. Alaa Al-Sedeeq, a key Ikhwan member, even escaped Doha to London by deceiving British authorities. Qatar’s role in facilitating these movements highlights its dangerous commitment to shielding terrorists globally.
Despite Qatar's well-documented role in protecting and facilitating the movement of terrorists, the Biden administration has shockingly welcomed the country into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This dangerous upgrade in status not only disregards Qatar’s history of enabling extremism but also rewards a nation responsible for helping terrorists avoid justice through fraudulent passports and altered visa laws. By granting Qatar this privileged status, the U.S. has effectively overlooked its active role in shielding dangerous individuals and further emboldened a state that continues to support terrorism on a global scale.
This act of complicity shows that Qatar’s support for jihadist causes is not accidental but part of a deliberate strategy that has cost thousands of lives, including those of American citizens. Qatar’s dangerous double game must end, especially as Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, one that the Biden Administration quietly extended its presence before leaving office for another 10 years. While Qatar pretends to provide strategic leverage, it uses this relationship to fund terrorism, harbor terror leaders, and support Iran’s nuclear ambitions, undermining both U.S. security and regional stability.
After Iran’s missile attack on Israel, Qatar blocked the U.S. from using its own base, raising the critical question: who is in charge? Is Qatar hosting the U.S., or is Qatar using American assets for its own agenda and protect Iran? This growing control over U.S. military operations cannot continue. The U.S. must reassess its relationship with Qatar and confront this threat.
On February 19, 2025, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei requested Qatar to release $6 billion in frozen funds, a sum that had been locked in a Qatari bank since a 2023 deal between the U.S. and Iran to free American prisoners. Qatar, which has long been a financial lifeline for Iran, seems to be exploring ways to bypass Western restrictions, further deepening its complicity in Iran's destabilizing activities. This ongoing financial tug-of-war illustrates Qatar’s critical role in enabling Iran’s ambitions, from nuclear development to supporting proxy terror groups across the Middle East.
President Trump's "maximum pressure" strategy aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program, won’t succeed unless Qatar’s role in financing Iran’s nuclear ambitions is addressed. Qatar continues to be a key enabler of Iran’s actions, both directly and indirectly, and without dealing with Qatar’s financial support for Iran and jihadist groups, any efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear goals will remain incomplete.
The U.S. must act decisively to confront Qatar's role in global terrorism. Qatar can not be trusted as a reliable partner, especially as it continues to fund terrorist organizations and protect Iran’s nuclear pursuits. To make real progress, the U.S. must revoke Qatar’s status as a “Major Non-NATO Ally,” relocate military bases, remove Qatar from the Visa waiver program, and impose sanctions on Qatar as a state sponsor of terror.
Qatar’s ongoing complicity in terrorism cannot continue to be be tolerated. If the U.S. continues to turn a blind eye to Qatar's support for jihadist movements, the dangerous alliance between Iran and Qatar will continue to flourish, undermining not just the Middle East, but global security. We are at a critical crossroads. It is Trump’s “peace through strength” test time.
