According to the Lebanese daily As-Safir, the announcement by the Emir of Qatar that he is passing the reigns to his son Tamim was not prompted by the prince’s illness, but by U.S. pressure.

The United States seemingly "discovered" the micro-monarchy’s secret machinations involving jihadists in Syria, as well as a number of illegal financial transactions. Washington allegedly forced the monarch to resign, together with his prime minister, and imposed the choice of his son Tamim to succeed him.

The handover of power will take place in early August and will profoundly change the regional order: Qatar has been the financier of the Muslim Brotherhood and of the war against Syria.