FnF News
🇺🇸 FNF News | U.S. National Security | Middle East Conflict
Published: June 27, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Global Correspondent – FNF
Tehran Fires 19 Missiles at U.S. Base in Qatar as Diplomacy Begins in Doha
In a chilling reminder of the volatility surrounding the U.S.–Iran nuclear standoff, Iran launched 19 ballistic missiles targeting the U.S.-controlled Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar, just as nuclear negotiations opened in Doha. The operation, branded by Tehran as “Glad Tidings of Victory,” marked one of the most direct military confrontations between the two nations in years.
While 18 of the 19 missiles were intercepted by a robust U.S.–Qatar air defense network—including Patriot, THAAD, NASAMS, Rapier, and Roland systems—one missile landed just outside the base’s perimeter. No casualties were reported.
U.S. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, called it “the largest Patriot missile engagement in Gulf history.” A small team of 44 U.S. soldiers, some just 21 years old, reportedly operated the Patriot batteries under extreme pressure and succeeded in defending one of the most critical U.S. military assets abroad.
Ceasefire Crumbles in Real Time
The missile strike came just days after President Donald Trump announced a “phased ceasefire” between Iran and Israel—brokered with the help of Qatar. That ceasefire collapsed almost immediately, with Israeli airstrikes resuming in southern Syria and Iran activating drone operations, cyber offensives, and now a full missile barrage.
Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and Houthi militias in Yemen have also declared high alert, and U.S. intelligence agencies believe further proxy escalations are possible in Iraq and Jordan.
Doha Talks Open with Tension in the Air
Despite the attack, the U.S. and Iran proceeded with high-stakes negotiations in Doha. The talks aim to reestablish IAEA oversight of Iran’s nuclear program, freeze uranium enrichment below 60%, and explore a phased unfreezing of nearly $10 billion in Iranian oil revenues.
However, Iran’s Parliament voted last week to suspend IAEA cooperation, casting serious doubt on the transparency of its nuclear intentions.
European Union observers and Russian diplomats are present in the talks. China declined formal participation, signaling its desire to remain diplomatically neutral in this phase of the conflict.
Gulf States Reroute, Brace for Fallout
Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait closed their airspace in response to the missile threat. Qatar Airways diverted over 90 flights, affecting more than 20,000 passengers in under 24 hours.
Qatar’s Prime Minister called the strike a “strategic misstep” by Iran, noting that “Qatar remains committed to peace, but not at the expense of its sovereignty.”
Washington’s Quiet Ultimatum
While President Trump downplayed the strike publicly, calling it “very weak,” Pentagon insiders revealed that the U.S. issued a private warning to Tehran: any future obstruction of inspectors or uranium enrichment beyond 60% will result in direct military retaliation—“without diplomatic warning.”
U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Ford, Nimitz, and Carl Vinson are now positioned at strategic chokepoints across the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean.
Markets React Cautiously
Despite the military escalation, Brent crude oil dropped nearly 7%, as investors wagered that diplomacy might succeed and that U.S. air defenses were sufficient to contain immediate threats.
Defense contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, however, saw sharp upticks in stock prices after the Patriot missile system’s success was confirmed.
Khamenei’s Strategy: Strength Before Settlement
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei praised the missile operation as a “calculated demonstration of deterrence.” Iranian state media emphasized that the strike was meant to restore strategic balance, not ignite full-scale war. Iranian diplomats continue to claim they are open to a peaceful resolution—so long as it does not require “capitulation.”