Why is Qatar seeking to buy US liquefied natural gas now, according to the news?

Qatar is in talks to buy US LNG under long-term agreements because the Iran war has crippled its ability to supply its own customers, particularly due to the halt in shipments caused by the risk of moving gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz; additionally, its Ras Laffan LNG export plant—the world’s largest—was damaged by an Iranian strike early in the conflict and may take three to five years to fully repair.

What existing US LNG involvement does Qatar already have, as stated in the article?

Qatar already has ownership stakes in the Golden Pass LNG plant in Texas, which began exports in April and has been ramping up production; it also operates QatarEnergy Trading, a unit that has been steadily increasing its capabilities to ship fuel from the US, focusing on shorter-term trading.

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