Smoke rises from the site of a US-Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Atta Kenare / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar has expressed its welcome of the ceasefire announcement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, considering it an initial step toward de-escalation. It also decided to reschedule the annual Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, held in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to later this year.
Stay tuned for more updates:
1:40pm Doha Time
Qatar Economic Forum to be rescheduled later in 2026
The annual Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, held in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and originally scheduled to take place from May 12–14, 2026, will be rescheduled to later this year in Doha. Read more
1:27pm Doha Time
Iran says Lavan refinery hit in attack, no casualties reported
An oil refinery on Lavan Island was hit in an attack on Wednesday without causing casualties, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said, according to the Oil Ministry’s Shana news outlet.
The company said the facility was struck around 10 a.m., adding that firefighting teams were working to contain the blaze and secure the site.
1:24pm Doha Time
UAE says dealing with missiles, drones coming from Iran
The United Arab Emirates said it was dealing with missiles and drones coming from Iran on Wednesday, hours after a two-week truce came into effect.
"The UAE's air defences are currently engaging missile and drone attacks originating from Iran," the ministry of defence said in a statement on X.
1:11pm Doha Time
Kuwait intercepts 28 drones, reports significant damage to power, water desalination plants
Kuwait has announced that it was targeted by an intense wave of Iranian attacks beginning at 8am today, April 8, 2026, with 28 drones successfully intercepted. This was confirmed in a statement issued on the same day by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense official spokesperson, Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan, via social media. Read more
11:59am Doha Time
Qatar welcomes ceasefire announcement between United States and Iran
The State of Qatar has expressed its welcome of the ceasefire announcement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, considering it an initial step toward de-escalation. It stressed the need to build on this development urgently to prevent further escalation in the region. Read more
11:25am Doha Time
US-Iran truce: What we know
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump.
Here's what we know about the truce between two countries, which are set to begin negotiations but remain poles apart in their positions on ending the war. Read more
11am Doha Time
Macron welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, calls it a 'very good thing'
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday France welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing." Read more
10:55am Doha Time
Operations temporarily suspended at Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas complex
Operations at the Habshan gas complex have been temporarily suspended the Abu Dhabi media said.
Early Wednesday, a fire was reported at the gas complex.
In a statement on X, the media office said that local authorities have confirmed that the fire was caused by falling debris following a missile interception by Abu Dhabi’s air defence systems.
The interception also injured two Emiratis and one Indian national, the media office ad
10:40am Doha Time
Iran’s Ghalibaf, US’s Vance expected at Islamabad talks on Friday
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to lead Iran’s negotiating team in Friday’s talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad that is expected to see Vice President JD Vance represent the US delegation, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
The report said Iran’s 10-point proposal framework includes not only its nuclear programme and regional security, but also Iran’s primary and secondary sanctions, which date back about 45 years.
10:05am Doha Time
Starmer heads to Gulf, welcomes Iran war truce
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Gulf on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders in an effort to bolster the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said.
"I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," a statement quoted Starmer as saying.
"Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz." Read more
9:30am Doha Time
Explosions heard in Manama: AFP
Explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital Manama on Wednesday morning, according to an AFP journalist, hours after the United States announced a ceasefire with Iran.
The Gulf kingdom's interior ministry said in a statement that civil defence crews had succeeded in controlling a fire that broke out in a facility "targeted by the sinful Iranian aggression", with no injuries reported.
9:15am Doha Time
Oman welcomes US, Iran ceasefire, urges 'intensifying efforts' to resolve crisis
Oman said on Wednesday that it welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran after the two countries agreed a two-week halt in fighting hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump.
Oman's foreign ministry said in a statement that it emphasised "the importance of intensifying efforts at this juncture to identify solutions capable of resolving the crisis at its roots and achieving a permanent cessation of the state of war," as it welcomed the ceasefire.
8:45am Doha Time
UAE responds to fire at Habshan Gas Processing Facility
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported early Wednesday that authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to a fire at the Habshan Gas Processing Facility.
Earlier, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.
8:30am Doha Time
Pakistan to host US-Iran ceasefire talks Friday
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following the Mideast ceasefire announcement. Read more https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/08/04/2026/pakistan-to-host-us-iran-peace-talks-friday-following-ceasefire
8am Doha Time
Trump says US will help 'with traffic buildup' in Hormuz Strait
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will help with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Washington and Tehran agreed a two-week ceasefire.
"The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
7:45am Doha Time
Ceasefire deal a 'victory' for the US: White House
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday praised the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, calling it a "victory" for the United States.
"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt wrote on X.
"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace.
