EU urges pause in strikes on energy, water facilities
European Union leaders have called for a moratorium on military strikes on energy and water facilities in the Middle East, as concerns grow about the impact of the Iran war on the global economy.
“The European Council calls for de-escalation and maximum restraint, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect for international law by all parties,” leaders of the EU’s 27 countries said in the written conclusion of a summit in Brussels.
“In this context, he calls for a moratorium on strikes against energy and water utilities,” they said.
The leaders called for strengthening the bloc’s existing Red Sea naval mission Aspides and anti-piracy naval mission Atalanta in the Horn of Africa “with more assets in line with their mandate.”
US President Donald Trump reacted harshly to his allies who cautiously responded to his demands to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the transit point for approximately one fifth of the world’s oil.
In a statement, European leaders welcomed “the increased efforts announced by Member States, including strengthening coordination with partners in the region, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once the conditions are met.”
Natural gas prices in Europe rose as much as 35 percent on Thursday as attacks by Iran and Israel targeted some of the Middle East’s most important gas infrastructure, causing damage that will likely take years to repair.
Attacks on energy facilities since the beginning of the US and Israel’s war against Iran have realized some of the energy industry’s worst fears: that a conflict in the region would lead to long-term damage and shortages in global energy supplies.
“We are now on the path to a doomsday gas crisis scenario,” said energy analyst Saul Kavonic of MST Financial. “Even if the war is over, the disruption in LNG supplies could last for months or even years.”
Iran on Thursday struck the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, the world’s largest LNG complex, a day after Israel attacked Iran’s massive South Pars gas facilities.
The Ras Laffan hit led to the destruction of two LNG trains, which could cause Qatar’s liquefied natural gas exports to decline by about 17 percent over three to five years.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Qatar, Qatar and the region would suffer such an attack from a brotherly Muslim country, especially during Ramadan,” QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters.
Iranian airstrikes have already targeted a refinery in Saudi Arabia, forced the United Arab Emirates to shut down gas facilities, and started fires at two refineries in Kuwait. US President Donald Trump threatened retaliation if they continued.
Trump said Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a call that he would no longer attack Iran’s energy facilities.
Netanyahu confirmed at a press conference that the US president had asked him to postpone such attacks.
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