Qatar’s prime minister has warned that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would “entirely contaminate” the waters of the Gulf and threaten life in Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait.

The three desert states, facing Iran on the opposite side of the Persian Gulf, have minimal natural water reserves and are home to more than 18 million people whose only supply of potable water is desalinated water drawn from the Gulf.

Al-Thani’s warnings were made the same day that US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leadership suggesting the two countries begin negotiations toward a nuclear deal.

“There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” Trump said to Fox Business News. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani warned Friday that an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites would leave the Gulf with “no water, no fish, nothing… no life,” in an interview with US conservative media personality Tucker Carlson.