Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has warned against "cycles of escalation" in the Middle East, describing the economic fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran as "an earthquake" whose shock waves extend far beyond the region.

Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, made the remarks on Sunday at the opening of the Qatar Economic Forum's event in New York City, held alongside the UN General Assembly.

He called for a regional "framework in which sovereignty is respected" and in which no state can pose a "threat to another," framing respect for sovereignty as a fundamental condition for security in the Middle East.

"During the crisis, almost every conversation began with security and de-escalation, then turn[ed] to energy supplies, shipping routes, and with our investments, plans will continue. These were different expressions of the same question. When so much is being disrupted, what can still be relied upon?"

Sheikh Mohammed said the shock waves of the conflict were "challenging assumptions about security and stability" well beyond the borders of the region.

He acknowledged that the ongoing conflict is having an impact on Qatar's economy and security, while stating that the country has weathered the test to the "foundations" of both.

"Permanent security cannot be built through arrangements that leave any state permanently exposed to insecurity," he said. "We must address the sources of tensions and build confidence."

Alongside his security remarks, the prime minister outlined a domestic shift in Qatar's investment strategy, pledging more than $38bn in spending on Qatari infrastructure over the next five years. The move is intended to attract private investors and signal the country's economic resilience.

The message delivered at the forum is expected to be repeated when Gulf leaders meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to reports.

The UNGA session runs from Monday through Friday, with the situation in the Middle East and its global ramifications expected to feature prominently in speeches and diplomatic meetings.

Also on Sunday, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari told US media in New York that his government's mediation efforts are ongoing, aimed at restarting talks between Tehran and Washington to end the US-Israel war on Iran.