Qatari officials have rejected claims in sections of Israeli media that Qatar halted its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production to affect energy prices in the United States, calling such accusations an attempt to “drive a wedge” between Qatar and the US. In a statement to Al Jazeera on Thursday, a senior Qatari official dismissed the reports as part of a broader campaign to undermine regional stability.
QatarEnergy suspended LNG production last week following an Iranian drone attack, straining the global LNG market. Qatar supplies 20 percent of the world’s LNG. According to Qatar’s Ministry of Defence, Iranian drones struck two sites: a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed Industrial City and an energy facility in Ras Laffan belonging to QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG producer.
The Qatari official characterized the claims as an effort by unofficial mouthpieces of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exploit a period of global instability to sow further tension and division across the region. He referenced a statement posted on X by Amit Segal, chief political analyst for N12News, who on Wednesday alleged that the halt in gas production signaled “coordination between Iran and Qatar to close the facility in order to pressure an end to the war.”
The official added that Segal’s claims attempted “to drive a wedge between the US and Qatar by alleging that Qatar’s decision to halt energy production was a calculated political move.” He noted that these allegations are the latest in a pattern of false reports made by Segal in recent days, including highly irresponsible claims that Qatar attacked Iran.
The official continued, stating that Netanyahu’s media allies have long circulated “claims intended to create friction in the region.” He emphasized that at a time when the region urgently needs de-escalation, such narratives set a dangerous precedent and should be called out for their reckless and malign intent, adding that Qatar will always prioritize people’s safety over political or economic gain.
Source: www.aljazeera.com