In a television program on April 14, Hamad, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, said the U.S. military presence does not threaten the emirate, Middle East Newsline reported. He said Qatar has full control over facilities used by Central Command, which established a presence around Doha in the 1990s.

"We should remember how the American base came to Qatar," Hamad said. "It was the result of the Kuwaiti invasion [by Iraq in 1990]. Earlier, there was no base in Qatar, but rather in neighboring countries."

"There are still American bases in many countries where there is no requirement, rather just because of some treaties signed 40 or 50 years ago," Hamad said.

It was the first time a senior Qatari official was asked to publicly justify the U.S. military presence in Qatar. In 2002, scores of Qatari military officers were arrested in an attempted coup to block the arrival of U.S. military units in preparation for the war against Iraq.

"We have an agreement with the United States, which recognizes full Qatari sovereignty inside the bases," Hamad said. "I cannot disclose the articles of these agreements because they are secret."

U.S. Central Command maintains troops and equipment at Al Udeid air force base and A-Sayliya. Hamad said the U.S. military presence was meant to ensure stability in the region.

"We should be prepared for the worst," Hamad said. "The energy reserves in Qatar have made it essential for the leadership to take such a difficult decision."

At the same time, Hamad reiterated that Qatar would not help the United States in any military strike on Iran. He said Qatar does not object to a civilian Iranian nuclear program.

"We will not participate in any military attack against Iran," Hamad said. "We support Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. But we don't want a nuclear competition in the region."