FnF News
🇺🇸 FNF News | Gulf Strike & Nuclear Diplomacy
Published: June 26, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Chief Foreign Affairs Editor – FNF News
Missiles in the Sky, Talks on the Table: Iran Hits U.S. Base in Qatar as Nuclear Negotiations Begin in Doha
DOHA — The illusion of calm shattered over the Gulf as Iran launched 19 ballistic missiles at Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar—home to thousands of U.S. troops and the forward command center for CENTCOM. The strike, conducted under Iran’s self-declared “Operation Glad Tidings of Victory,” came just hours after President Trump announced that U.S. and Iranian officials would begin nuclear talks in Doha.
The message was unmistakable: Iran isn’t bowing—it’s bargaining with both fists.
U.S. Base Targeted, Intercepted in Time
- 19 missiles were fired. 18 were intercepted by U.S. and Qatari systems, including Patriot and THAAD batteries. One missile struck just outside the perimeter fence.
- There were no reported casualties—but the symbolic weight of the strike couldn’t be missed.
- Qatar condemned the attack but confirmed that Iran issued a pre-strike warning, allowing airspace closure and defense prep.
Trump Downplays, Pentagon Watches Closely
President Trump called the Iranian strike “very weak,” thanking Tehran for the warning. He claimed it proved Iran was “back at the table, not on the battlefield.”
However, inside the Pentagon, officials are treating the strike as a test of U.S. deterrence credibility in the region. Several top defense analysts warned: “This was a flex—not a retreat.”
Ceasefire Already Unraveling
Just three days ago, Trump brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. But Israeli airstrikes in Syria and Iranian missile responses have already destabilized the deal.
Israel’s defense ministry confirmed ongoing “precision retaliations.” Iran’s foreign ministry called the ceasefire “a one-sided trap” that “won’t survive another violation.”
Doha Talks: Risky but Real
Set to begin within 72 hours, the Doha negotiations will attempt to:
- Limit Iran’s uranium enrichment
- Restart IAEA access to nuclear sites
- Discuss phased sanctions relief
- Prevent a broader regional war
Qatar, acting as neutral ground, will host both delegations behind closed doors. The EU, UN, and Russia have been invited to observe. China has not confirmed participation.
Gulf on Edge, Proxies on Alert
- Airspace in Qatar, Bahrain, and UAE remains restricted.
- U.S. Navy ships, including USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Carl Vinson, are now patrolling the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea.
- Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen are on standby. Hezbollah has not commented publicly—but Israeli intelligence suspects operational readiness has increased.
Cyber & Oil Shock
- U.S. Cyber Command has detected rising Iranian-linked attacks against defense and energy networks.
- Surprisingly, oil markets dropped nearly 7%, with investors betting that diplomacy will hold—for now.
Final Word
This is not peace—it’s pause.
The Gulf is on edge, the missiles are in storage but not dismantled, and the diplomacy begins beneath the shadow of war.