Qatar's emir tells Shura Council the country showed resilience amid 'exceptional events'

Mixed · 2Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, told the Shura Council in Doha on Tuesday 13 October that the country and the region had faced "exceptional events" that proved the cohesion of state institutions. 1 2 Mixed · 2The speech came after months of instability since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on 28 February, which Iran answered with missile and drone attacks across the region and an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 2 1 Centre · 1Sheikh Tamim said Qatar supplies around one-fifth of global LNG trade and that anything affecting it is quickly reflected in markets and consumers everywhere. 2

Centre · 1He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and direct damage to some Ras Laffan facilities had disrupted a significant portion of Qatar's exports, though the economic impact was concentrated mainly in the energy sector. 2 Mixed · 2Al Jazeera notes that Iran directly attacked Qatar several times, including in March, when it struck Ras Laffan, the world's largest LNG production site; Anadolu says QatarEnergy halted LNG production in early March after drone attacks on facilities in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan, which Qatar's Defense Ministry said came from Iran. 1 2 Mixed · 2The emir said Qatar had absorbed the consequences thanks to policies adopted before the war, and described a strategy of defending the country without being drawn into war, maintaining services and supply chains, helping secure a ceasefire and reopen waterways, and encouraging negotiations. 1 2

Centre · 1He said Iran's attack violated Qatar's sovereignty and international law and that Qatar's right to defend itself does not conflict with its wish to keep the war from expanding, while stressing a preference for dialogue and diplomacy. 2 Mixed · 2Sheikh Tamim said the security and sovereignty of Gulf Cooperation Council states cannot be compromised, and called for doubled efforts to secure navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and to protect energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. 1 2 Centre · 1On the energy outlook, he said work on expanding the North Field gas development continues as planned and that the US Golden Pass LNG project has made significant progress. 2

Centre · 1Anadolu adds that the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June on freedom of navigation in the strait but implementation stalled, after Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. 2