Qatar’s deputy prime minister has warned that global energy shockwaves from the US-Israel war on Iran have yet to reach their peak, raising concerns about further disruption to supplies, international trade and economic growth.
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shockwaves → warn → supplies
Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Minister of State for Defence Affairs, identified several threats facing Qatar and the wider Gulf, including risks to sovereignty and disruptions to energy supplies.
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who → speak → supplies
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“We haven’t reached the peak with respect to energy,” he said, warning of further repercussions “in the coming days and months”.
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he → reach → days
His remarks come amid continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz – a vital waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments – following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the region.
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remarks → come → region
Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex in March damaged facilities, with repairs expected to take several years.
“We were surprised,” Al Thani said when asked about the attack, adding that there had since been “a lot of discussion with Iran”.
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Thani → damage → Iran
He said Qatar had drawn lessons from the strikes, “to make sure that all of our assets will be protected from any unexpected attack”.
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all → say → attack
Al Thani also warned against imposing tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Thani → warn → Hormuz
“Transit fees should not be applied,” he said, adding that uncertainty over the waterway would ultimately affect consumers worldwide.
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uncertainty → apply → consumers
‘We never stop our communication’
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We → stop → communication
Despite the attacks, Al Thani said Qatar continued to maintain contact with Tehran.
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Qatar → say → Tehran
“We never stop our communication,” he said, adding that the two countries remained in touch at different levels despite their disagreements.
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countries → stop → disagreements
He described Qatar’s relationship with Iran before the attacks as one of trust, pointing to their shared offshore gasfield and longstanding economic interests.
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He → describe → gasfield
Al Thani expressed hope that mediation efforts involving Qatar, Pakistan and Oman would help produce an agreement between the United States, Iran and other parties, including Israel.
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efforts → express → Israel
He said a sustainable settlement would require broader regional dialogue involving Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Pakistan and Turkiye, in consultation with international allies.
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settlement → say → allies
“We need to build this on trust,” he added.
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he → need → trust
Al Thani also suggested developing economic ties with Iran to prevent future conflicts, citing cooperation between France and Germany following decades of hostilities.
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Thani → suggest → hostilities
We need to find ways to live with them,” he said.
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he → need → them
US defence ties
Al Thani also highlighted Qatar’s longstanding defence partnership with Washington, saying that “more than 90 percent” of attacks had been prevented through shared expertise and military capabilities developed over the past three to four decades.
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percent → highlight → decades
He said Qatar was continuing to develop Al Udeid airbase, which hosts US forces and military personnel from other partner countries.
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which → say → countries
The base was itself targeted by Iran during the conflict, with Qatar reporting that it had shot down two Iranian warplanes during an attack in early March.
Al Thani also announced plans for a new regional defence partnership, saying Qatar was prioritising several aspects including air defence, counter-drone measures and cybersecurity.
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Qatar → target → defence
“I’m happy to announce today also that soon we’re going to announce a new partnership,” he said, without naming the regional partners involved.
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he → ’m → partners
The deputy prime minister stressed that Qatar’s mediation efforts did not diminish its commitment to defending its territory.
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efforts → stress → territory
“Mediation doesn’t mean that we should not be ready for any defensive action from our side,” he said.
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he → mean → side
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