Qatar held secret talks with Iran during the Israeli-US war, offering to help disrupt global energy markets if Tehran spared the Ras Laffan gas field, The Washington Post reports, citing US officials.
The report said Iran did not give Qatar a firm pledge that it would avoid striking the facility, which supplies a fifth of the world’s natural gas. But Doha believed it could reach an informal understanding with Tehran.
Qatar reportedly offered to halt gas production, a move that could have rattled energy markets and increased pressure on Washington and Israel. The facility shut down on the third day of the war.
US officials cited by The Post said the CIA and senior Trump administration officials became aware of the Qatari offer after Washington intercepted communications involving Iranian leaders.
The report added that Iran struck the plant in March, destroying parts of the facility and key infrastructure that made up 20 percent of its liquefied gas output, threatening multibillion-dollar international contracts.
