Circumvention of sanctions.. Qatari-Iranian coordination to compensate for Russian gas supplies to Europe

As Ukraine looks for allies to support it in repelling an impending Russian invasion, EU countries, with US support, are seeking urgent gas solutions in the event of a Russian supply disruption.

Quoting informed sources, Bloomberg news agency reported that President Joe Biden’s administration officials spoke with Qatar about the possibility of Doha supplying Europe with liquefied gas in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden’s administration has discussed with major gas producers, including Qatar, the possibility of sending more shipments to Europe if Russian supplies stop, Bloomberg quoted informed sources as saying.

The US website Axios reported that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House next Monday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, as well as contingency plans to provide natural gas to Europe in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

This issue is important because Europe depends on Russia for 40% of its natural gas, undermining Biden’s attempts to coordinate the massive sanctions that would be imposed on both sides of the Atlantic if Russia invades Ukraine. The White House wants Qatar to help ensure European countries can impose tough sanctions without risking an energy crisis.

However, according to media reports, Qatar would not be able to significantly increase natural gas supplies to Europe in the event of any disruption of Russian flows, so it considered turning to its ally Iran for support in production, thereby helping Tehran export its gas to Europe under the cover of Doha, flouting U.S. sanctions on Iran.

As part of its efforts, Qatar invited Iran to participate in the Gas Exporting Countries Summit, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.

The official call came as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Informed sources say that there is a Qatari-Iranian coordination to compensate Russian gas supplies to European countries, which is a clear violation of the sanctions imposed on Iran because of its nuclear activity and its transcontinental terrorism.