Payam Javan: President Donald Trump has issued an executive order declaring that any future attacks on Qatar will be treated as a threat to U.S. peace and security. The order, signed on Sept. 29, underscores Qatar’s role as a key strategic ally in the Middle East, hosting U.S. forces and serving as a diplomatic intermediary in regional conflicts. The move came just a day after Qatar facilitated the release of an American citizen from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The directive follows a series of strikes inside Qatar in recent months, including an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. outpost in June and an Israeli airstrike in Doha earlier in September that killed several Hamas officials and a Qatari serviceman. While Trump acknowledged Israel’s campaign against Hamas as a legitimate objective, he expressed regret over the violation of Qatari sovereignty. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later conveyed his apology to Qatar during a trilateral call hosted by Trump at the White House.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. executive order, describing it as a reflection of the “longstanding partnership” between Doha and Washington. Trump’s announcement was accompanied by the rollout of a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which Qatar has since shared with Hamas leaders. The order is seen as both a reaffirmation of U.S. defense commitments to Qatar and a strategic step to reinforce regional stability amid rising tensions.