Khaberni - Qatar denied what was published by The Washington Post on Friday "and any claim that operational decisions related to energy production were made or implemented, at any time, in coordination with Iran or in a way that serves its interests, or with the aim of influencing events in the region", according to a statement from the Qatar International Media Office.
The office added: "The falsity of these claims is particularly clear, given that Qatar was at that time confronting Iranian missile attacks targeting its territory, in addition to the claims themselves being based on fraudulent and unreliable materials, sourced from entities aiming to undermine ongoing efforts to achieve conflict resolution through mediation, and to damage the reputation of the State of Qatar, and negatively affect the close strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and the United States of America."
"Shifting Accusations"
The Qatar International Media Office explained that the assumptions on which The Washington Post built its claims have changed over time, yet the main narrative in its coverage remained unchanged, despite the facts and information presented to the newspaper, according to the statement.
The office noted that "any conclusions suggesting that Qatar exaggerated the extent of damage to the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility or fabricated it as a pretext to shut it down are baseless," highlighting that immediately after the outbreak of military operations, Qatari officials transparently clarified that the decision to declare force majeure on liquefied natural gas contracts was made because it was no longer possible to guarantee the safety of employees.
"Safety Above Commercial Considerations"
According to the statement, "This decision was based on threat assessments conducted by the Qatari Armed Forces, which indicated a real danger to lives in the energy facilities", according to the statement.
The office mentioned that "Qatar Energy enjoys a solid reputation for commitment to transparency and presenting facts, steering clear of political issues; it also expresses the State of Qatar's unequivocal rejection of any hint that Qatar Energy deliberately distorted the basis on which it suspended its operations or declared force majeure."
The office emphasized that "Qatar will always prioritize the safety of its citizens and residents on its soil above any commercial considerations, and that any attempt to reinterpret this decision or portray it in a misleading manner is unfounded and carries the risk of misleading the readers", according to the statement.
The office concluded the statement by noting that "prestigious media institutions, such as The Washington Post, have a responsibility to adhere to the highest journalistic standards, especially when dealing with issues with significant global implications. It is truly regrettable that The Washington Post allowed itself, in this case, to be used as a platform for a disinformation campaign backed by entities seeking to undermine efforts to achieve peace in the region. Thus, the newspaper contributed to the spread of false claims, failing to adhere to the accuracy standards expected by its readers", according to the text of the statement.
