U.S. and South Korea cut military drills to five days after Trump orders reduction
South Korea and the United States are scaling back their annual joint military exercises following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump to sub...
QatarEnergy is prepared to rapidly restore liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan complex once shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The source told Reuters that output from facilities unaffected by Iranian strikes could return to full capacity within a month. However, the main obstacle is not production itself but the ability to move cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.
"The problem will be how fast can we bring ships in and how fast we can load them after the strait opens," the source said. "It's more of a shipping and logistics problem than production."
Iranian attacks earlier this year damaged two of Qatar's 14 LNG production trains and one of its two gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities. According to QatarEnergy's chief executive, the damage removed around 17% of the country's LNG export capacity and could take years to fully repair.
As a result, some production facilities have remained idle throughout the conflict.
Although the U.S. and Iran have reached a framework agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, shipping activity remains limited.
Only a small number of LNG tankers have successfully exited the waterway since fighting began in late February. Shipping companies are still seeking assurances that the route is safe before resuming normal operations.
Industry participants remain particularly concerned about the clearance of naval mines and other security risks that emerged during the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, handling a significant share of global LNG and oil exports. Any prolonged disruption to traffic through the passage could continue to affect energy markets and maintain upward pressure on global gas prices.
While Qatar appears capable of restoring much of its LNG production relatively quickly, a full recovery in exports will depend on how quickly shipping traffic can safely return to normal.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Monday it was reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on scaling back joint military drills. It added that it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks.
Russia said its air defences downed 180 drones over the Moscow region overnight, with 620 drones reportedly targeting the area, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Azerbaijan’s strategic rise is turning it from a transit state into a regional rule-setter, with the Middle Corridor giving Baku growing influence far beyond its size, analyst Ahmad Alili says.
Kyrgyzstan is seeking to boost fuel imports from China as it looks to diversify supplies and reduce the risks of its heavy reliance on Russia.
At least 42 children were injured in an explosion at an educational centre in western Kabul on Monday, sparking international calls for a full investigation.
Uzbekistan could lose up to $1.5 billion if escalating Middle East tensions disrupt vital trade and logistics routes through Iran, putting pressure on supply chains and the wider economy.
Azerbaijan has summoned Russia’s ambassador in Baku over recent Russian media comments it described as insulting, provocative and threatening towards the country, its people and leadership.
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