On Thursday, October 3, 2024, informed sources reported that ministers from Gulf states and Iran participated in a meeting of Asian countries hosted by Qatar, where they discussed de-escalation in the conflict following Iran's recent missile strike on Israel and Israel's threats of retaliation.

According to Reuters, the Gulf states conveyed a message to Iran, assuring it of their neutrality in the conflict amid concerns that a broader escalation of violence could threaten Gulf oil facilities.

Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian threatened a strong response from Tehran to any further Israeli actions and sought to rally Asian countries in support of Iran during his visit to Qatar on Wednesday.

Bezhakian arrived in Qatar just a day after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, which in turn intensified its military operations against Hezbollah, a Tehran ally, by deploying forces in southern Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would respond to Iran's missile attack.

Iranian state media quoted Bezhakian as saying upon his arrival in Qatar, "If the Zionist regime (Israel) does not stop its crimes, it will face harsher reactions."

He reiterated this sentiment during a joint press conference in Doha with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, asserting that if Israel took any action against Iran, Tehran would respond more forcefully.

Bezhakian also urged the United States and European nations to ask Israel not to destabilize the region. He criticized Israel for the assassination of former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh on July 31, attributing the blame to Israel, although Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

Following that, Israel reportedly targeted Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Upon his arrival in Qatar, Bezhakian expressed, "We also want security and peace. It is Israel that assassinated Haniyeh in Tehran."

In the same press conference, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani affirmed that Doha would continue its mediation efforts to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly a year.