{
  "id": 8816752,
  "title": "Qatar energy chief says Bessent ‘wrong’ about Hormuz becoming worthless",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/qatar-energy-chief-says-bessent-wrong-about-hormuz-becoming-worthless",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T01:51:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
    "slug": "the-business-times-companies-markets",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/qatar-energy-chief-says-bessent-wrong-about-hormuz-becoming-worthless"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Qatari Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi dismissed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's claim that the Strait of Hormuz will become obsolete in two years. Al-Kaabi suggested that Bessent's view is \"completely wrong.\" He emphasized Hormuz's importance as a transit venue for various types of trade, not just oil and gas. He also stated that the waterway will never be irrelevant, noting that 90% of all shipping occurs through the sea. Al-Kaabi further revealed that Qatar has no plans to construct new pipelines to circumvent Hormuz, as their decision was based on commercial and technical factors.",
  "summary": "The US Treasury Secretary has said the strait ‘will be like a worthless piece of water’ in two years",
  "key_points": [
    "Hormuz is crucial for various types of trade, not just oil and gas, according to Al-Kaabi.",
    "Qatar has no plans to build new pipelines to bypass Hormuz, citing commercial and technical factors."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Qatar's energy minister rejecting the US Treasury Secretary's claim that the Strait of Hormuz will become obsolete underscores the gulf in views on the waterway's long-term relevance and usage.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}