Qatar condemned Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars field, warning that targeting shared gas infrastructure threatens global energy security and regional stability.
Qatar has voiced its outrage over Israel’s attack on facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars field, an extension of Qatar’s North Field, describing it as “a dangerous and irresponsible step”.
“The Israeli targeting of facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars field, an extension of Qatar’s North Field, is a dangerous and irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on X.
“Targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security, as well as to the peoples of the region and its environment,” he added.
Al-Ansari, who is also an advisor to the prime minister, reiterated Qatar’s calls for de-escalation.
“We reiterate, as we have repeatedly emphasised, the necessity of avoiding the targeting of vital facilities. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and work toward de-escalation in a manner that preserves the security and stability of the region,” he said.
Israel attacked the Iranian side of the field on Wednesday, marking a major escalation in the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The strike marked the first time Iran’s upstream oil and gas facilities have been targeted during the conflict, according to Bloomberg.
Iran’s state television later published a threat on Wednesday, saying the Islamic Republic would attack oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The sites mentioned included Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex, the UAE’s Al Hasan gas field and petrochemical plants, and facilities in Qatar.
However, no official comment on the matter has been issued by Iran or the Gulf states.
Qatar first discovered non-associated natural gas in 1971 off its north-east coast. The discovery, named the North Field, is shared with Iran and holds around 900 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves, making it the world’s largest gas field.
On 2 March, Qatar’s Ministry of Defence announced that two Iranian drones had targeted a water tank and an energy facility in the country.
One drone struck a water tank belonging to a power plant in Mesaieed, while the other targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City belonging to QatarEnergy. No casualties were reported.
At the time, the ministry said that “all damages and losses resulting from the attack will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and an official statement will be issued later”.
Following the attack, QatarEnergy halted LNG production and associated operations as a precaution. On March 4, the company declared force majeure to affected buyers.