Qatar has condemned Iranian strikes on its key energy infrastructure as a “very dangerous escalation by the Iranians”, warning that the attacks have disrupted global energy markets and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The warning comes as gas prices surge sharply across the United Kingdom and Europe following the attack on the Ras Laffan energy complex, with fears growing over supply disruptions.
The escalation has drawn international concern, with the United States President Donald Trump holding talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on the unfolding crisis.
European powers including the United Kingdom, France and Germany have condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and urged Tehran to halt threats to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Trump warned Iran against further strikes in Qatar following what he described as “extensive damage” to critical facilities, while Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would act with “zero restraint” if further attacks target its infrastructure.
The scale of the damage is now becoming clearer.
According to QatarEnergy, Iranian attacks have wiped out 17% of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas export capacity, with losses estimated at $20 billion annually and disruptions expected to last up to five years.
Chief Executive Saad al Kaabi said two of Qatar’s 14 LNG trains and one of its gas to liquids facilities were damaged in the strikes, knocking out 12.8 million tonnes per year of production.
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be – Qatar and the region – in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way,” Kaabi said.
He added that the damage would force the company to declare force majeure on long term supply contracts affecting key markets in Europe and Asia.
“I mean, these are long-term contracts that we have to declare force majeure. We already declared, but that was a shorter term. Now it’s whatever the period is,” he said.
The strikes follow a cycle of retaliation, after Iran launched attacks on Gulf oil and gas facilities in response to Israeli strikes on its own infrastructure.
Israeli media have also reported damage to the Haifa oil refinery following an Iranian missile strike, further signalling a widening conflict.
Security analysts warn the targeting of energy infrastructure marks a critical turning point, with fears the conflict could severely disrupt global energy supplies and destabilise already fragile markets.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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