Qatar rejects attempts to “drive a wedge” with the United States over the gas supply pause | War between the United States and Israel against Iran News

A Qatari official denies political motives for the decision to halt LNG production following the Iranian attacks.

Qatar has rejected claims in sections of the Israeli media that it had stopped its LNG production to affect energy prices in the US, calling such accusations an attempt to “drive a wedge” between Qatar and the US.

In a statement on Thursday, a senior Qatari official told Al Jazeera that “Qatar will always prioritize people’s safety over political or economic gain.”

“It is not surprising that unofficial spokespersons for (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu are attempting to take advantage of this period of global instability to sow further tension and division throughout the region,” the official said.

QatarEnergy suspended liquefied natural gas (LNG) production last week following an Iranian drone attack, testing the global LNG market. Qatar supplies 20 percent of the world’s LNG.

According to Qatar’s Defense Ministry, Iranian drones attacked two sites: a water tank at a power plant in the industrial city of Mesaieed and an energy facility in Ras Laffan belonging to QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG producer.

“For more than two years, Netanyahu has pursued a regional agenda that has fueled conflict and chaos in pursuit of his own political ambitions,” the official said.

He referenced a statement published on

Segal’s claims attempted to “drive a wedge between the United States and Qatar by alleging that Qatar’s decision to halt energy production was a calculated political move,” the Qatari official said.

“These allegations are the latest in a series of false reports made by Segal in recent days, including highly irresponsible claims that Qatar attacked Iran.”

Netanyahu’s media allies had long circulated “claims intended to create friction in the region,” the official continued.

He added that “at a time when the region urgently needs a reduction in tension, such narratives set a dangerous precedent and must be denounced for their reckless and evil intent.”