Two major Qatari energy facilities shut down operations after being damaged during Iran's strikes targeting the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday, adding that the situation had been contained.
QatarEnergy announced on Monday that it had suspended liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following attacks on two of its energy facilities, and on Tuesday said it was suspending production of downstream natural gas products such as urea and methanol.
The shutdown sent gas prices skyrocketing on global energy markets, provoking fears of an energy crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking during his weekly press conference, Al-Ansari said that the decision to shut down the facilities was taken as a precaution, to ensure the safety of personnel and infrastructure after the strike damaged key production and processing sites.
"The damage was contained and now the operations to assess, technically, the safety of the facilities is underway. And from the defensive posture, as you have seen, we have been ready in monitoring and dealing with all of these attacks," he said.
Al-Ansari said that Qatar is committed to de-escalating the situation, and added that Qatar had not had any contact with Iran since Feb 28.
"Qatar's diplomatic stance has always been firm and clear: committed to peace, actively promoting de-escalation, advocating dialogue and consultation, and striving to resolve the conflict peacefully," he said.
Major Qatari energy facilities damaged in Iranian strikes: foreign ministry
The Iranian armed forces and people have vowed to fight with all their strength in the "battle for survival" against U.S. and Israeli aggression, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Baghaei called on the international community to curb the crimes being committed by the United States and Israel in the Middle East. He said this war was not a voluntary choice for Iran, but was imposed on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, and that Iran will continue to fight for its survival and dignity.
"Over the past year and a half, we have heard a great deal of deceptive information. But now it is time to fight and defend our country, and anything that attempts to distract us or lead us astray will be rejected. Deception has always been part of our enemy’s modus operandi. Our armed forces have sworn an oath, and the Iranian people have pledged to give their all (to win this war)," he said.
The U.S. and Israel have launched sustained airstrikes against the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and surrounding areas over the last few days. The attacks have affected the Bandar Abbas International Airport and the city’s seaports.
Other port cities in southern Iran, including Jask and Chabahar, have also been attacked, and ferries traveling from southern Iran to neighboring countries have been suspended indefinitely.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meanwhile, released details on Tuesday of its 15th round of missile attacks on key locations within the U.S. military base in Bahrain. The IRGC said the attacks has destroyed the U.S. air command and control center, aircraft refueling tanks, and residences of senior U.S. military commanders.
Iranian armed forces, people will fight with all their strength: FM spokesman
