An informed source said on Tuesday that the Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker is at risk of explosion due to a fire that broke out in the engine room.
Sources reported that a Qatari tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker sustained damage near the Strait of Hormuz after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at two vessels in the waterway overnight.
One source stated that the tanker was loaded with liquefied natural gas and sent out distress calls after its port side was damaged.
For his part, Majid Al-Ansari, the official spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that targeting the tanker “Al-Ruqayyat” is an unacceptable attack on the security and safety of international navigation, and a serious violation of the provisions of international law.
Al-Ansari stressed in his official account on the “X” platform that the State of Qatar demands that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that threaten the security of the region and the safety of navigation, or endanger global energy supplies, holding it fully legally responsible for the attack and any resulting damages and repercussions.
Widespread condemnation and Gulf solidarity
The targeting of the Qatari tanker sparked a wave of official and Gulf condemnations, amid warnings of serious repercussions for international maritime security and the stability of global energy markets.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, expressed his “strongest condemnation and denunciation of the Iranian attack on the tanker and the endangerment of its crew,” noting that “this constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.” He called on the international community to “assume its responsibilities and take a firm and deterrent stance against these repeated Iranian attacks, in order to safeguard regional and international peace and security and prevent the recurrence of such hostile acts that threaten the stability of the region.” The Secretary-General also affirmed that the GCC “stands united with the State of Qatar and expresses its full solidarity with it in all measures it takes to confront this attack.”
Reports indicate that the tanker, which bears the maritime registration number 9397339, is a liquefied gas tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag, and its ownership and commercial management are linked to Qatari entities, and its capacity is approximately 216,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas.
Qatari expert and economic analyst Jaber Al-Mansouri confirmed to Al-Quds Al-Arabi that targeting the tanker while it was passing near the Strait of Hormuz represents a very dangerous development and an unjustified escalation, especially in light of the role that the State of Qatar plays in supporting efforts to calm tensions and consolidate diplomatic solutions.
Al-Mansouri said that the State of Qatar has been and remains one of the most prominent supporters of the mediation and dialogue process, and has made great efforts to make the negotiations a success and bring the viewpoints of the various parties closer together, asking: “Why is a country that has always supported peace, supported diplomatic solutions, and played the role of an impartial mediator that enjoys the respect of the international community being attacked?”
He added in exclusive statements that it is difficult to understand the motives for targeting oil and gas tankers at this time, especially with the continuation of negotiation efforts aimed at containing tensions and reducing escalation, considering that such actions undermine the chances of reaching political solutions, and send negative messages to global markets and the international community.
He pointed out that Iran, by attacking Gulf oil tankers, especially Qatari ones, had crossed all diplomatic boundaries and norms, even though Qatar had spared no effort in supporting peace and dialogue initiatives, and had consistently sought to promote regional stability and prioritize negotiation over confrontation.
A renewed targeting of oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz would lead to a surge in energy prices, insurance costs, and shipping fees, raising the cost of transporting goods globally and causing widespread damage to the entire international economy.
Al-Mansouri explained that targeting oil and gas tankers in a vital area like the Strait of Hormuz would have wide-ranging repercussions on global energy markets, stressing that any threat to navigation in this strategic passage directly impacts global energy security and supply chains.
He added that the return of targeting oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to a rise in energy prices again, and will also cause a significant increase in marine insurance and shipping costs, which will be reflected in the cost of transporting energy and goods, and its effects will not be limited to the Gulf countries, but will extend to the entire global economy, given the great dependence on the stability of maritime traffic in the region.
He stressed that the State of Qatar is one of the most reliable suppliers of natural gas in the world, contributing about 20% of global gas exports, which makes any targeting of its tankers or disruption of its exports a source of concern for international markets, and threatens the stability of energy supplies on which many countries depend.
