Qatar has urged an unconditional halt to the US-Israeli war on Iran, becoming the first major Gulf energy producer to call for an immediate end to the conflict.
“This war needs to stop immediately. The aggression needs to stop immediately,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Thursday, speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
His remarks contrasted with a joint statement issued a day earlier by Arab and Muslim states, which condemned Iranian attacks but stopped short of calling for an unconditional ceasefire.
The comments followed Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which triggered Iranian reprisals targeting energy sites in the Gulf.
QatarEnergy chief Saad Al Kaabi confirmed that missiles struck the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, knocking out 17% of export capacity and causing losses estimated at $20 billion annually. Repairs are expected to take between three and five years.
Qatar supplies about 20% of global LNG, and analysts have warned that the damage will drive up prices in Asia and Europe, where consumers rely heavily on Qatari gas.
Iran also demonstrated its reach by targeting areas near Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu, a key crude export hub.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi wrote in The Economist that prolonging the war serves neither US nor Iranian interests, suggesting that Israel is seeking regime change in Tehran.
Qatar’s call underscores growing regional alarm over escalating military tensions and their impact on energy security.
