Qatar has called for intensified international efforts to place all Israeli nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and for Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state.
The demand was made by Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, Qatar’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Vienna, during a session of the IAEA Board of Governors. Al Hammadi urged the international community to enforce UN Security Council resolutions, UN General Assembly directives, and past IAEA agreements that call for Israel’s nuclear sites to be brought under external supervision.
Qatar claims that Israel’s alleged nuclear capabilities pose a security risk to the region and argues that applying IAEA oversight would promote regional stability. Doha insists that Israel should be held to the same non-proliferation standards as other nations, referencing the 1995 NPT Review Conference, which urged Israel to adhere to global nuclear regulations.
Qatar’s Double Standard on Nuclear Proliferation
While Qatar demands strict oversight of Israel’s nuclear program, it has remained silent on Iran’s illegal nuclear ambitions, despite mounting evidence that Tehran is actively working to develop nuclear weapons. Iran, a close ally of Qatar, has repeatedly defied the IAEA, obstructed inspections, and enriched uranium to levels far beyond civilian energy needs. Yet, Qatar has not once called for Iran to dismantle its nuclear program.
Israel has never confirmed nor denied possessing nuclear weapons, maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity. However, unlike Iran, Israel has never threatened to use nuclear weapons to annihilate another country. Iran, on the other hand, has openly declared its intention to destroy Israel, backing terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah to wage proxy wars against the Jewish state.
Israel’s Nuclear Deterrence and Regional Security
Israel’s nuclear capabilities—if they exist—serve as a deterrent against existential threats, particularly from Iran, whose Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has intensified its attacks against Israel since the October 7 massacre. Given Iran’s recent ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities and its well-documented support for terrorism, Israel’s nuclear policy remains essential for its survival.
The IAEA has been widely criticized for its failure to hold Iran accountable, despite years of violations, secret enrichment sites, and its refusal to cooperate with inspectors. Meanwhile, Israel—a democratic nation under constant threat of annihilation—faces calls for disarmament, exposing the double standards of international diplomacy.
Qatar’s Hypocrisy and Its Ties to Iran
Qatar’s persistent focus on Israel’s nuclear program while ignoring the threat posed by Iran raises questions about its true motives. Doha has long maintained close political and economic ties with Tehran, funding Hamas and other terrorist organizations that threaten Israeli security. This latest diplomatic maneuver appears to be yet another attempt to isolate Israel while shielding Iran from scrutiny.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Israel remains firm in its commitment to national security. Whether Qatar’s demands gain traction remains to be seen, but Israel is unlikely to bow to diplomatic pressure while Iran continues its path toward nuclear weapons unchecked.
