Doha, Qatar: The International Media Office of the State of Qatar categorically rejected the allegations published by The Washington Post on June 12.
Any suggestion that operational decisions relating to energy production were – or have ever been – made in coordination with Iran, for Iran’s benefit, or to influence the course of the conflict is entirely unfounded. These allegations are particularly implausible given that Qatar was actively defending its territory against Iranian missile attacks at the time.
The allegations rely on false and unreliable material originating from actors whose objective is to sabotage ongoing efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, damage Qatar’s reputation, and undermine the strategic partnership between Qatar and the United States. The basis of the allegations advanced by The Washington Post shifted over time, yet the underlying narrative in its reporting remained unchanged despite the facts and information presented to it.
Equally baseless are any inferences that Qatar exaggerated or fabricated damage to the Ras Laffan LNG facility as a pretext for its closure. In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of the conflict, Qatari officials were transparent that the decision to declare force majeure on LNG contracts was taken because employee safety could no longer be guaranteed. The decision followed threat assessments by Qatar’s military, which identified a credible risk to human life at energy facilities.
QatarEnergy has a well-established reputation for communicating facts and steering clear of political matters. Any insinuation that QatarEnergy knowingly misrepresented the basis for suspension of operations or the declaration of force majeure is categorically rejected.
Qatar will always prioritise the safety of its people over commercial considerations. Any attempt to reinterpret or mischaracterise this decision is baseless and risks misleading readers.
Respected publications such as The Washington Post have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of journalism, particularly when reporting on matters of major global consequence. It is therefore deeply regrettable that, in this instance, The Washington Post has allowed itself to be used as a conduit for a disinformation campaign orchestrated by actors intent on undermining regional peace efforts. In doing so, it has lent credibility to false claims and failed to meet the standards of accuracy that its readers expect.
