US reportedly allowed Iran to shoot missiles at empty base in Qatar to enable ceasefire

The Iranian missile attack on the American al-Udeid airbase in Qatar on Monday evening, which many feared would lead to a regional conflagration, was in fact a coordinated move calculated to enable the regime to save face while suing for a ceasefire, according to several media reports.

The only partial confirmation came in a post by U.S. President Donald Trump, after Iran launched 14 missiles at the U.S. base.

“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” Trump wrote.

“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered. There have been 14 missiles fired – 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.23.25 03:52 PM EST pic.twitter.com/Av5whXOwJ0

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 23, 2025

Earlier Monday evening, alarm sirens were activated across U.S. bases in the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. In addition to the missile attack on al-Udeid, there were reports of drone attacks on a base in Iraq.

In another Truth Social post, Trump thanked the “Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region,” adding that “in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded.”

היסטריה באחד הקניונים בקטר pic.twitter.com/fyBzKnPQFr

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) June 23, 2025

A White House official told the news outlet Axios that Iran conveyed messages via Qatar before launching the missiles, informing them when and where they would attack.

Afterward, they notified the White House that there would be no further attacks on U.S. targets, and the U.S. confirmed there would be no retaliation for the missile strikes – paving the way for the ceasefire declaration that followed some hours later.

This course of events was also confirmed by Reuters and the New York Times.

“We knew they would react. They had a similar response after Soleimani,” a senior White House official told CNN.

השיגורים מאיראן לבסיס אל-עודייד בקטר pic.twitter.com/eKplK0sRd0

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) June 23, 2025

President Trump had ordered the elimination of former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. At the time, the regime also responded by launching missile barrages at U.S. targets in the region after notifying the White House.

“Iran has the necessary rationality to begin diplomacy after punishing the aggressor,” an Iranian official told Reuters after the attack. “But if they want talks, the Israeli and American strikes must cease.”

“Iran needed to strike the United States symbolically, while simultaneously carrying out an operation from which all sides would have a way out,” Iranian sources said.