DOHA, Oct. 19 -- Qatar's deputy prime minister told a Doha security forum on Monday that the energy damage from the war on Iran is still building, then said his government has never stopped talking to Tehran, whose strikes hit Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial complex in March.

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also minister of state for defence affairs, spoke at the Global Security Forum. "We haven't reached the peak with respect to energy," he said, warning of more disruption to supplies, trade and growth "in the coming days and months." He gave no number for the peak. Qatar's government revenue fell 42 percent in the first half, the Emir told the Shura Council last week.

His words carry weight because Qatar is a target of Ira...