Qatar's emir has called for greater efforts to secure the passage of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, urging Gulf states to maintain cooperation and coordination as the regional crisis disrupts maritime traffic.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday that the security, sovereignty and stability of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries could not be compromised.
Speaking to the Shura Council, he also called for stronger efforts to secure navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and to protect energy, water and civilian infrastructure.
“We will continue working with our brothers and our international and regional partners to keep our region stable and secure,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the Gulf's oil and LNG exports pass, remains a major focus of international diplomacy amid continuing disruption to maritime traffic and energy flows during the conflict between Iran and the US.
Tehran has threatened to target vessels using routes other than those designated by Iranian authorities, or attempting to cross the waterway without permission.
Qatar's role in global energy
Qatar accounts for a major chunk of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, the emir said, warning that any disruption affecting the country quickly reverberates across international markets and consumers.
“Qatar supplies around one-fifth of global LNG trade, and anything that affects it is quickly reflected in markets and consumers everywhere,” he told the council.
He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and direct damage to some energy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City had disrupted a significant portion of Qatar's exports, though the economic impact had been concentrated mainly in the energy sector.
QatarEnergy halted LNG production in early March after drone attacks struck energy facilities in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan, the world's largest LNG export hub. Qatar's Defence Ministry said two drones originating from Iran targeted the facilities.
Sheikh Tamim said work on expanding Qatar's North Field gas development was continuing as planned to increase the country's LNG production capacity. He added that the Golden Pass LNG project in the US had made significant progress, while QatarEnergy continued to expand its investments and international partnerships.
Defence without escalation
The emir said Qatar had shouldered three responsibilities during the crisis: protecting its sovereignty, fulfilling its role in global energy and economic security, and keeping diplomatic channels open.
He said Qatar's strategy rested on four elements: defending the country firmly without being drawn into war; maintaining public services, supply chains and economic activity; contributing to efforts to secure a ceasefire and reopen waterways; and encouraging negotiations to seek peaceful solutions.
Qatar had been attacked by Iran in a violation of its sovereignty and international law, he said, adding that Qatari armed forces and security agencies had carried out their duty to defend the country.
Stressing that dialogue did not mean compromising on national defence, he said Qatar's right to defend its sovereignty "does not conflict with our keenness to prevent the war from expanding."
Favouring dialogue
Sheikh Tamim said Qatar had consistently favoured resolving disputes through dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy, arguing that recent developments had again demonstrated the interconnected nature of regional and global security.
The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington later imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June on freedom of navigation in the strait, but implementation stalled over disagreements related to security in the waterway.
As cross-border aerial attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure and airports, the GCC has reinforced a collective security framework, saying the defence and stability of each member state are tied to the sovereignty of the wider bloc.
