New Delhi, March 7: Amid escalating tensions between the U.S.-Israel and Iran, many Indians are stranded in the Middle East. The Indian government is collaborating with various nations to facilitate their safe evacuation. Due to ongoing attacks in the region, the situation has become increasingly challenging. In response, the Indian Embassy in Qatar has issued an advisory for those affected.
Numerous individuals arrived in Qatar on short-term visas but are now unable to leave due to the recent circumstances. The Indian Embassy has included a link to a form in their advisory. They stated on the social media platform X, “Indian citizens stranded in Qatar as tourists/short-term visitors (holding Hayya A1 visas) due to flight cancellations between February 28 and March 7, 2026, are requested to fill in their details at the provided link. Please note, this is solely to ascertain the accurate number and details of stranded Indian citizens who do not reside in Qatar.”
Additionally, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned that if the hostilities continue for several more days, Gulf energy exporters may have to declare ‘force majeure.’ This could halt oil and gas supplies and lead to a significant spike in global energy prices.
If an oil company cannot supply oil due to war or natural disasters, it can declare force majeure, absolving it of breach of contract liability. In an interview with the Financial Times, Saad al-Kaabi indicated that if the current conditions persist, all Gulf exporters may have to declare force majeure in the coming days. He cautioned that companies failing to do so could face substantial legal liabilities and losses.
He warned that if tankers and other vessels are unable to navigate the straits, crude oil prices could soar to $150 per barrel within the next two to three weeks. Meanwhile, natural gas prices could quadruple to $40 per MMBtu (metric million British thermal units).
This week, Brent crude futures surged nearly 20%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by about 25%. On Friday, Brent crude traded over $89 per barrel, marking a more than 3% increase, while WTI exceeded $86 per barrel, up over 5%. Both benchmarks are at their highest levels since April 2024.
Qatar, the world’s second-largest LNG producer, has already declared force majeure this week after its Ras Laffan LNG facility was damaged in an Iranian drone attack. This facility is Qatar’s largest LNG plant, and damage assessments are currently underway.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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