Report Says Qatar Secretly Sought an Iran Deal to Shield Gas Facilities

Newly disclosed intelligence material cited by The Washington Post says Qatar tried early in the war to strike a covert understanding with Iran that would spare its energy infrastructure, even if that meant a move that would pressure the United States and Israel. According to the report, Doha proposed shutting down production at Ras Laffan, the world’s largest gas facility, in return for Iranian immunity from attack.

The alleged logic was economic and political. Qatar reportedly believed that halting a site supplying about one fifth of global gas demand would send energy prices sharply higher and create enough pressure on Washington and Jerusalem to help end the war sooner. A regional security source quoted in the report said Qatar’s message to Tehran was essentially,