Ziggy Ojiegbe

World’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), QatarEnergy, has declared force majeure to buyers on Wednesday after Iranian attacks on the country. The announcement came two days after the company halted production at the country’s main site.

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“Force majeure” is a legal clause that exempts a company from fulfilling its contract if events take place beyond its control.

On Monday, Qatar said two sites were attacked by Iranian drones. One of the sites is Ras Laffan Industrial City, located some 80 kilometres north of Doha. The other attack targeted a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed Industrial City.

Qatar has the world’s third-largest gas reserves and is the leading exporter of LNG.

This comes as oil and gas prices have surged after Tehran restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global trade.

Iran has attacked Gulf nations in retaliation for Israeli-US strikes which killed its supreme leader and caused widespread damage. Qatar is seen by Tehran as too friendly with the US.

Oracle Intelligence reports that conflict across the Middle East entered a fifth day on Wednesday after US and Israeli killed Iran’s supreme, Ayatollah Khamenei in coordinated attacks.

Iran has continued to respond by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, which have extended to non-military targets, including civilian sites and energy facilities.

The fighting has escalated quickly, pulling in Cyprus and Lebanon in recent days, with casualties and damage mounting on all sides.

Bewsides Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel’s military said, dozens more senior figures in the powerful Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) were also killed.

The death toll in Iran since the US-Israeli attacks began has reached 787, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. Meanwhile, US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) reports that 1,097 civilians have died, including 181 children.