World’s Largest LNG Producer Suspends Operations Following Iranian Strike
The company QatarEnergy suspended operations following an attack by an Iranian drone on two of its facilities in Qatar. It is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, accounting for about 20% of global supplies.
The state-owned Qatari energy company QatarEnergy halted liquefied natural gas production after an Iranian attack on its facility, CNN reported, citing a company statement.
On Monday, an Iranian drone struck a gas facility in Ras Laffan, as well as another energy facility in Mesaieed.
The Ministry of Defense of Qatar has launched an investigation into the extent of the damage. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, Qatar is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, accounting for approximately 20% of global exports.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari stated that Iran must be held accountable for the attack on the kingdom’s civilian infrastructure. According to Qatari authorities, the attacks on the kingdom were successfully intercepted; however, falling debris from Iranian-made missiles resulted in injuries to eight people across the country.
The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East followed joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran launched strikes on targets in the Persian Gulfcountries.
Representatives of seven states, including Qatar, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, signed a joint statement condemning Iran’s actions. The document emphasizes that Iran is striking sovereign territories, putting civilian populations at risk.
