Qatar warns energy shock from Iran war has not yet reached its peak

Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned that the global energy effects of the US-Israel war on Iran have not yet peaked. Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday, he said further repercussions could come in the coming days and months.

Al Thani, who is also Minister of State for Defence Affairs, cited risks to Qatar’s sovereignty and potential disruption to energy supplies. He said uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz would affect consumers worldwide and opposed imposing transit fees on ships using the waterway.

Strait of Hormuz and energy supplies

The strait is a key route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Shipping remains unstable following US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the region. Al Thani said transit fees should not be applied.

Iranian strikes damaged facilities at Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex in March. Repairs are expected to take several years, according to the source. Al Thani said Qatar had learned from the attack and was working to protect its assets from unexpected strikes.

Qatar maintains contact with Iran

Al Thani said Qatar continues to communicate with Tehran at different levels despite disagreements. Before the attacks, he described the relationship as based on trust, pointing to a shared offshore gasfield and long-standing economic interests.

He expressed hope that mediation involving Qatar, Pakistan and Oman would help secure an agreement between the United States, Iran and other parties, including Israel. A lasting settlement, he said, would require wider regional dialogue involving Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Pakistan and Turkiye, in consultation with international allies.

Al Thani also advocated developing economic ties with Iran, citing cooperation between France and Germany after decades of hostility.

Defence cooperation and planned partnership

Al Thani said shared expertise and military capabilities developed over the past three to four decades had helped prevent more than 90 percent of attacks. Qatar is continuing to develop Al Udeid airbase, which hosts US forces and military personnel from other partner countries.

Qatar said it shot down two Iranian warplanes during an attack on the base in early March. Al Thani announced plans for a new regional defence partnership focused on air defence, counter-drone measures and cybersecurity, but did not identify the prospective partners. He said mediation does not lessen Qatar’s readiness to defend its territory.