Indian companies have reduced natural gas supplies to industries in anticipation of tighter supply from the Middle East after top global producer Qatar halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, as European gas prices have jumped further by more than 30 percent since the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Industry sources with knowledge of the matter told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday that top gas importer Petronet LNG Ltd had informed GAIL (India), the state-owned top gas marketing company, and other companies about lower supplies.
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Cuts ranged from 10 percent to 30 percent, two sources told the agency. GAIL and Indian Oil Corp (IOC) informed customers of the gas supply cuts late on Monday, according to one of the sources.
India is the world’s fourth-largest buyer of LNG and relies heavily on the Middle East for its imports. The South Asian nation is the top LNG client for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the second-largest buyer of Qatari LNG.
The sources said the cuts have been set at minimum lifting quantities that would shield the suppliers from any penalties from the customers based on contractual terms.
They added that, to make up for the LNG shortfall, companies, including IOC, GAIL and Petronet LNG, were planning to issue spot tenders, although spot prices, freight and insurance costs have surged.
QatarEnergy on Monday suspended LNG production following a drone attack, straining the global market. The measure followed Iranian drone attacks on a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed Industrial City and an energy facility in Ras Laffan belonging to QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG producer.
Qatar’s state-owned energy company was forced to declare what is known as force majeure, when a company is freed from contractual obligations in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
The United States and Israel’s war with Iran also spilled over into the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, prompting a surge in oil and gas prices.
Qatar’s LNG exports represent 20 percent of the global market. With fewer products reaching the market, LNG supply is down, causing prices to surge.
Meanwhile, European stock markets slid further at the start of trading on Tuesday, and the region’s natural gas prices soared again.
The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, shot up more than 33 percent, having rocketed almost 40 percent on Monday.
The intensity of the attacks across the Middle East and the lack of any apparent exit ramp, with diplomatic overtures currently nonexistent in the public eye, set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences, including for global energy markets.
US President Donald Trump said Washington has “the capability to go far longer” than its projected four-to-five-week timeframe for its military operations against Iran.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has shown support for rotational presidency ahead of the 2027 polls, saying that no northerner has any business joining the race.
The Governor, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the submission on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He explained that although anybody can vie for any political office, the southern region should retain the presidency in the interest of fairness and unity of the country.
“There is no business of anybody in the north to do with the presidency at the moment. It is the turn of the south; they should complete their eight years, if we are really serious about this country. It should rotate so that we will all be brother’s keepers,” the governor said.
Among key contenders for the nation’s number 1 office is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP flagbearer in the 2023 polls.
The 79-year-old Adamawa State-born politician has since dumped the PDP for the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) to achieve his long-time ambition.
READ ALSO: Adamawa Gov Fintiri Defects To APC
But the governor specifically canvassed support for the current President and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, who has been endorsed by this party, APC.
“What else do we want as a state? We won’t force anybody to be a presidential candidate, which means we will continue to support our people to play local politics.
“Everybody knows we are organized, and if we push further, we can still win elections. But who is that person who has come out to say he wants to contest for the presidential election in the PDP? We have seen none for now.
Good Relationship With Atiku?
When asked if he has maintained a good relationship with the Waziri of Adamawa, Fintiri replied in the affirmative.
He explained that despite aligning with the ruling APC, there is no strained communication with the former VP as a result of political differences.
“I still have, there is nothing that has gone bad. It is just that everybody has taken their political ways. I am today in APC, they are in another party.”
According to the governor, the stability of this nation matters in the polity of Nigeria.
“It is still the turn of the south to complete. A northerner has no business at the moment to vie for the office of the President.
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Matthew Henry
BBC Sport journalist in Mumbai
20 Comments
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says England have a better spin attack than India and he has a “funny feeling” Harry Brook’s side will win Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.
India came into the tournament as overwhelming favourites but were beaten by South Africa in the Super 8s phase and stuttered in the group stage.
England are yet to produce a complete performance but have progressed to the last four with five successive wins, having come through a series of tight finishes.
“They seem to have found a way of winning,” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.
20 hours ago
2 days ago
1 day ago
England’s batting has failed to fire throughout the tournament. Captain Harry Brook scored a sensational century against Pakistan but there have been few other match-winning contributions.
But Vaughan pointed to their bowling – the spin of Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, plus the seam of Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Jamie Overton – as a strength.
“England have a better spin attack than India,” said Vaughan.
“[Varun] Chakravarthy has been got at. Dawson, Rashid and Will Jacks have been the best trio in the tournament in terms of spin.”
Spinner Chakravarthy is India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament but in key matches against West Indies and South Africa he has conceded 40 and 47 runs respectively.
“England’s fielding has been absolutely exceptional,” Vaughan added.
“They look really alert. England’s running between the wickets has been exceptional.
“The small percentage things you can control themselves, England seem to be doing very well.
“I just have a funny feeling England can get the job done in Mumbai.”
England look set to again back out-of-form opener Jos Buttler, who has returned five single-figure scores in a row at this tournament.
Vaughan said Buttler is focussing too much on his technique while attempting to get out of his rut.
“You always look at your technique when you are not feeling as good as you have done,” he said.
“Jos is a hand-eye player. Just stare right in the middle of the ball and react to the deliveries.
“The shots he hasn’t been playing are the ramp shots. I think this pitch will suit that shot and to play that shot you have to stare at the ball right onto the bat.
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2022 win ‘one to model our game on’ – Curran
Thursday’s meeting at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, in front of loud partisan support for the hosts, should be mouth-watering.
It is the third semi-final between the two sides in succession at the T20 World Cup, with England having won the 2022 encounter by 10 wickets in Adelaide before India were triumphant in Guyana in 2024. Both sides subsequently went on to win the title.
All-rounder Curran, who played in both previous meetings, said the 2022 win is a template for England to look to.
“If we are searching for a perfect game, I guess that’s something we can hopefully model our game on,” he told BBC Sport.
“It’s pretty obvious that the crowd’s going to be epic and what an opportunity for us to kind of come out here.
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Matthew Henry
BBC Sport journalist in Mumbai
26 Comments
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says England have a better spin attack than India and he has a “funny feeling” Harry Brook’s side will win Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.
India came into the tournament as overwhelming favourites but were beaten by South Africa in the Super 8s phase and stuttered in the group stage.
England are yet to produce a complete performance but have progressed to the last four with five successive wins, having come through a series of tight finishes.
“They seem to have found a way of winning,” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.
20 hours ago
2 days ago
1 day ago
England’s batting has failed to fire throughout the tournament. Captain Harry Brook scored a sensational century against Pakistan but there have been few other match-winning contributions.
But Vaughan pointed to their bowling – the spin of Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, plus the seam of Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Jamie Overton – as a strength.
“England have a better spin attack than India,” said Vaughan.
“[Varun] Chakravarthy has been got at. Dawson, Rashid and Will Jacks have been the best trio in the tournament in terms of spin.”
Spinner Chakravarthy is India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament but in key matches against West Indies and South Africa he has conceded 40 and 47 runs respectively.
“England’s fielding has been absolutely exceptional,” Vaughan added.
“They look really alert. England’s running between the wickets has been exceptional.
“The small percentage things you can control themselves, England seem to be doing very well.
“I just have a funny feeling England can get the job done in Mumbai.”
England look set to again back out-of-form opener Jos Buttler, who has returned five single-figure scores in a row at this tournament.
Vaughan said Buttler is focussing too much on his technique while attempting to get out of his rut.
“You always look at your technique when you are not feeling as good as you have done,” he said.
“Jos is a hand-eye player. Just stare right in the middle of the ball and react to the deliveries.
“The shots he hasn’t been playing are the ramp shots. I think this pitch will suit that shot and to play that shot you have to stare at the ball right onto the bat.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
2022 win ‘one to model our game on’ – Curran
Thursday’s meeting at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, in front of loud partisan support for the hosts, should be mouth-watering.
It is the third semi-final between the two sides in succession at the T20 World Cup, with England having won the 2022 encounter by 10 wickets in Adelaide before India were triumphant in Guyana in 2024. Both sides subsequently went on to win the title.
All-rounder Curran, who played in both previous meetings, said the 2022 win is a template for England to look to.
“If we are searching for a perfect game, I guess that’s something we can hopefully model our game on,” he told BBC Sport.
“It’s pretty obvious that the crowd’s going to be epic and what an opportunity for us to kind of come out here.
Drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday as Iran hit back at industrial and diplomatic targets across the Middle East and Washington warned its citizens to evacuate the entire region.
Four days after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and triggered a regional war, AFP reporters in the Saudi capital saw smoke damage on the walls and roof of the embassy.
Saudi police were swarming over the diplomatic quarter and checking IDs of everyone who entered. Several roads were blocked, including approaches to the US embassy.
READ ALSO: Drones Hit Amazon Data Centers, Gulf Facility Amid US-Israel-Iran War
Powerful explosions also shook Tehran through the night, as fighter jets flew over the Iranian capital and US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the conflict.
On Monday, the US State Department had urged “Americans to DEPART NOW” from all of the countries and territories of the Middle East “due to serious safety risks”.
Israel, meanwhile, said it was seizing new forward positions inside southern Lebanon, after Hezbollah fired missiles in support of its backer Iran and provoked a furious Israeli bombardment.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces had been authorised “to advance and take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon in order to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities”.
Following Israel’s “escalation”, according to a Lebanese military source, the Lebanese army redeployed troops in the south. Hezbollah claimed it had launched strikes targeting three Israeli bases.
In Gulf cities and the Omani port of Duqm, Iranian strikes continued to hit oil and gas infrastructure and as European markets opened the benchmark Brent crude price jumped again.
“We will burn any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” Revolutionary Guards General Sardar Jabbari declared, underlining the threat the war poses to the global economy.
In Washington, Trump warned that the strikes could continue for weeks or months.
“From the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that,” Trump said at the White House.
In an earlier interview with the New York Post, Trump — who campaigned on promises to end US involvement in wars — refused to rule out deploying US ground troops to Iran “if they were necessary”.
FILE: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali and US President Donald Trump.
And, speaking to NewsNation, Trump warned Iran would “find out soon” how he planned to retaliate for the Riyadh embassy attack.
The US president laid out for the first time the operation’s objectives — destroying Iran’s missiles, navy and nuclear programme and stopping its support for armed groups across the region.
Trump’s goals notably did not include toppling the Islamic republic, even though he and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged the people of Iran to rise up.
Saudi Arabia, home to one of the region’s largest oil refineries, some which have already been closed following attacks, said it intercepted eight more drones in two cities, including the capital, on Tuesday.
Two, however, got through air defences and struck the US embassy, causing a fire.
In Fujairah, one of the United Arab Emirates, debris from downed drones caused a fire at an oil facility, the state’s media office said. The blaze was brought under control and operations resumed.
‘Imminent threat?’
(FILES) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a joint statement with NATO Secretary General during a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on April 3, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented a strikingly new narrative of how the conflict started.
Washington’s top diplomat said the United States, which had built up its forces in the Gulf to levels not seen since its 2003 Iraq invasion, attacked only after learning that ally Israel was to strike Iran.
Iran had been ready to strike US forces in the region in response to Israel, so Trump decided to intervene “pre-emptively” alongside Israel, Rubio said.
“The imminent threat was that we knew that if Iran was attacked — and we believed they would be attacked — that they would immediately come after us,” Rubio told reporters before briefing lawmakers.
Rival Democrats voiced disbelief, with Senator Mark Warner saying it was “uncharted territory” for the United States to be triggered into action by Israel’s perception of a threat.
Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi responded that “there was never any so-called Iranian ‘threat’.”
“Mr. Rubio admitted what we all knew: US has entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel’,” he posted on X.
In an earlier interview with the New York Post, Trump — who campaigned on promises to end US involvement in wars — refused to rule out deploying US ground troops to Iran “if they were necessary”.
Death toll rises
Rocket trails from an interception by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system are pictured over Jerusalem on March 1, 2026. Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP
Throughout the region, the death toll has steadily increased with six US military personnel killed so far in the war, according to US Central Command.
Iranian media have reported hundreds of Iranian casualties, including scores at a girl’s school, although AFP reporters have not been able to verify tolls independently.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Tuesday said there were 101 casualties inside Iran on the third day of the war, including “85 civilian deaths and 11 military personnel killed”.
Many residents in Tehran were torn between fear of the bombings and hope that the government’s days might now be numbered.
AFP journalists witnessed some residents with suitcases in hand preparing to leave.
Explosions have rung out across Tehran as the war entered its fourth day with the United States and Israel continuing to pound Iran’s capital and numerous other cities and locations after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran continued on Tuesday to retaliate against Israel and throughout the Gulf where nations host US assets.
At least 787 people have been killed in US-Israeli strikes on a minimum of 131 cities across Iran, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday.
Israel’s military said it had “struck and dismantled” the headquarters of Iran’s state radio and television broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), accusing it of “calling for the destruction of the State of Israel and for the use of nuclear weapons”.
In a post on Telegram, IRIB reported explosions near its headquarters in Tehran but said there had been no disruption to its operations.
Tehran’s streets have been largely deserted as people take shelter during the air strikes.
Iranian media also reported explosions in the city of Karaj, just outside Tehran, as well as in the central city of Isfahan.
