GCC chief slams Iran's strike on Qatar's Ras Laffan gas plant

2026-03-18 - 22:49

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council issued a strong condemnation Wednesday of Iran's targeting of Qatar's Ras Laffan gas plant, describing the attack as a dangerous escalation that threatens both regional stability and global energy supplies. The strike on one of the world's most significant gas facilities marks a major escalation in the widening conflict. 'Grave violation' condemned Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the attack represents "a grave violation of international law and an unacceptable escalation that threatens regional security and stability." He warned that targeting oil and energy infrastructure is unacceptable and poses a direct threat to regional and global energy supplies. The Ras Laffan plant is critical to global liquefied natural gas markets, and any sustained disruption could have far-reaching consequences for energy prices worldwide. Call for international action Albudaiwi called on the international community to act to halt what he described as repeated Iranian attacks that undermine regional and international peace. His statement reflects growing alarm among Gulf states that have found themselves increasingly in the crossfire of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The GCC chief reaffirmed the council's "full solidarity with Qatar and its support for all measures taken to protect the country's security and sovereignty." Regional conflict widens The strike on Qatar's energy infrastructure comes as part of Iran's broader retaliation against the joint US-Israeli offensive that began Feb. 28, which has killed approximately 1,300 people including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting American military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation. For Gulf states, the attack on Ras Laffan represents a direct challenge to their economic lifelines and raises questions about the security of critical infrastructure across the region.