Qatar is caught between two wars. The kingdom is hosting the United States military at its Al Udeid Air Base, the largest in the region, while also serving as mediator between Iran and the U.S. and between Iran and the GCC countries of the Middle East. Now, with Iranian strikes hitting Qatar and the kingdom’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports collapsing, the country’s adviser to the prime minister is pushing back against talk of defeat.
Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatar’s prime minister, told reporters that there is no way out of the current conflict without a diplomatic solution. His teams are working 24/7 between capitals in the region, he said, even as the war continues to unfold around them.
Strait of Hormuz and the GCC
The war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which much of the world’s oil passes. Qatar’s LNG previously passed through the strait, and al-Ansari says its closure stops all LNG transit.
The situation is serious. Reports of reduced crop yields in Somalia and other Asian nations have emerged. Al-Ansari warns that the full economic impact has yet to be felt, calling it “the tip of the iceberg.”
He also says the war poses an existential threat to the international economy, not just to Qatar. He adds that Qatar’s economy is not fragile and daily life in Qatar remained unaffected despite missile interceptions.
Al-Ansari declined to confirm a reported 96 percent drop in Qatar’s LNG exports since the war began, directing questions to QatarEnergy instead. He cited a figure that more than 95 percent of projectiles aimed at his country were deterred, crediting joint military efforts between Qatar and the U.S. for the intercepts.
Diplomatic Path
Qatar has spent months mediating between Iran and the U.S., and between Iran and the region. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Iran and the U.S. earlier, but no progress has followed. Al-Ansari calls the MOU an interim proposal, not a permanent arrangement.
He argues the strait must remain open under international maritime law, with no single state holding power over it. Iran reportedly asked for control or at least access to all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a demand that al-Ansari rejects as unacceptable.
A GCC meeting was scheduled earlier this week, but regional officials said Iran was asking for too much ahead of it.
Cost of War
The stakes are high for Qatar. The kingdom hosts the largest air base in the region, and Iranian strikes have targeted it directly. Al-Ansari cites the 95 percent success rate of intercepts, expressing confidence that it could be repeated against future attacks.
The economic damage is visible. LNG exports are down, and the ripple effects are spreading to agriculture in Somalia and beyond. Al-Ansari warns that the worst may still come.
His refusal to concede despair is notable. He speaks of the war as a problem with a solution, not a fait accompli.
Key Facts
- The U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran.
- Qatar is mediating between Iran and the U.S., and between Iran and the region.
- Iranian strikes have targeted Qatar.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Iran and the U.S. earlier, but no progress has followed.
- LNG exports dropped 96 percent since the war began, according to reports.
- More than 95 percent of projectiles aimed at Qatar were deterred, according to al-Ansari.
- A GCC meeting was scheduled earlier this week, with regional officials saying Iran was asking for too much.
Al-Ansari’s message is simple: the war can end, but it requires all sides to talk. He believes the strait can reopen under international law, and he believes the economy can recover.
The war continues. Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen traded new strikes today, and the fighting shows no sign of stopping soon.
Source material: “Qatari spokesman on regional war and the path back to U.S.-Iran talks,” PBS.
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