Iranian province on the frontier of oil, borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf
The former emir has died at 74. The Amiri Diwan has announced the death, with no cause disclosed. He led Qatar from 1995 to 2013, transforming the country into a regional power through LNG, Al Jazeera, and major diplomatic initiatives, including mediation in conflicts and hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The US has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships at the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has closed the strait and retaliated with missiles and drones across Gulf states. The violence creates a volatile regional backdrop as talks under an interim US-Iranian truce appear ever more fragile.