Qatar has rejected Israeli media claims that it halted LNG output to manipulate US energy prices, calling the allegations an attempt to 'drive a wedge' between Doha and Washington. QatarEnergy suspended production after what Qatari authorities said were Iranian drone strikes on sites in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan. Doha said safety, not political or economic gain, motivated the pause and accused some Israeli commentators of spreading false and inflammatory reports. Officials warned such narratives risk escalating regional tensions.
Qatar Denies Halting LNG To Sway US Prices, Calls Israeli Reports an Attempt to 'Drive a Wedge'
Qatar Energy announced a complete shutdown of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following Iranian attacks targeting energy installations [File: Getty Images]
Qatar has strongly rejected reports in parts of the Israeli media that it paused liquefied natural gas (LNG) production to influence energy prices in the United States, calling the claims an effort to 'drive a wedge' between Doha and Washington.
Background
QatarEnergy suspended LNG production last week after what Qatari authorities described as an Iranian drone attack on two facilities. Qatar supplies roughly 20% of the world’s LNG, so the halt added pressure to already tight global gas markets.
What Was Hit
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence reported that drones struck a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed Industrial City and an energy facility in Ras Laffan operated by QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG producer.
Qatar's Response
'Qatar will always prioritise people’s safety over political or economic gain,' a senior Qatari official told Al Jazeera. The official accused certain Israeli commentators of exploiting regional instability to sow tension and division.
The statement specifically referenced a post by Amit Segal, an Israeli political analyst, who suggested the production halt signalled 'coordination between Iran and Qatar to close the facility in order to pressure an end to the war.' Doha called this claim false and part of a recent pattern of misleading reports, including assertions that Qatar attacked Iran.
Qatari officials warned that such narratives risk escalating regional tensions at a time when de-escalation is urgently needed. They urged media and political figures to avoid unfounded allegations that could further destabilise the region.
Market Impact
While Qatar did pause production for safety reasons, the interruption underlined the fragility of global LNG supplies and the potential for geopolitical incidents to influence energy markets.
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