Qatars IRGC cell arrests strain Iran-US diplomatic ties

Qatar Announces Arrests of Suspects Accused of Links to Iran’s IRGC

Doha, Qatar - Authorities in Qatar have arrested 10 individuals suspected of having ties to two cells operating on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The suspects are accused of espionage and sabotage.

According to the allegations, seven of the suspects were assigned to gather intelligence on military and vital facilities within Qatar, while the remaining three were tasked with carrying out sabotage. This revelation has raised questions about the extent of Iranian influence in Qatar, a country that has maintained close relations with Iran for years.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence had previously reported detecting dozens of drones and missiles launched towards its airspace since Iran began retaliating against a joint US-Israeli assault on Saturday. The arrests have further strained relations between Tehran and Doha, which have already been tense.

In a phone call on Wednesday night, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani rejected Iranian claims that missile attacks were not aimed at Qatar, citing evidence found in the suspects’ possession. Authorities discovered coordinates of sensitive installations, communication devices, and specialist technological equipment in the suspects’ possession.

Qatar has two major intelligence arms: the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC’s own intelligence apparatus. By naming the IRGC specifically, Qatar is making a deliberate distinction, according to experts. The seven accused of espionage were likely gathering intelligence on critical infrastructure, while the three allegedly tasked with sabotage were likely special forces operatives trained to pilot drones.

Details about the suspects’ nationalities and precise targets remain scarce as investigations are ongoing. However, this incident is not an isolated one, with over 10 similar incidents reported in the Gulf since the 1980s.

Source: Al Jazeera