The Washington Post reports that Qatar early in the war approached Iran asking it not to strike the Ras Laffan gas facility, and in return reportedly offered to halt its own gas production to drive up prices and increase pressure on Israel and the US to end the war. The report was cited by Israeli journalist Assaf Rosenthal on N12.
A new detail in the Washington Post report on Qatar's wartime contacts with Iran has emerged: Doha reportedly asked Tehran to spare the Ras Laffan gas facility, offering in return to halt its own gas production to drive up prices and pressure Israel and the United States. This development, first cited by Israeli journalist Assaf Rosenthal on N12, adds a layer of specific quid-pro-quo to what was previously described in general terms.
The story has been tracked by The Zioneer since the initial report at 15:57 Jerusalem. The first version stated that Qatar approached Iran early in the war with a secret gas deal, which a senior Israeli security source described as a 'secret deal.' A subsequent version at the same time identified the Ras Laffan facility as the specific asset Qatar sought to protect. The third version, also at 15:57, confirmed that the contacts collapsed after Iran struck the facility in mid-March. The current report from the Washington Post, as relayed by Rosenthal, now specifies the nature of Qatar's offer — a production halt — and the explicit request to spare the facility.
As The Zioneer reported on June 11, Qatari mediation has played a role in other high-stakes diplomacy, including a report that the Emir of Qatar, along with leaders of Pakistan and the UAE, convinced President Trump to call off a planned strike on Iran. That earlier context, attributed to Politico, showed Doha acting as a channel to avert military escalation.
The report remains attributed to the Washington Post and has not been independently confirmed by The Zioneer. The original article has not been published in full by the Post, and the precise timing and terms of the alleged exchange — including whether the offer was made directly or via an intermediary — remain unverified.
4 developments
- StrongIsrael reportedly planned major airstrike on Iran, halted by Trump tweet
- DevelopingTehran sought to ease US sanctions through Lebanon fighting, senior Lebanese source claims
- DevelopingIran demands Israel halt future strikes on Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon in any US deal
- ConfirmedTrump claims Iran asked him to stop bombing, Pentagon denies any US warship hit
Source and signal
- Internal intake