Helium hitch: Why US-Israel war on Iran could cause MRI scan delays
Analysis Summary
- Propaganda Score
- 0% (confidence: 95%)
- Summary
- The article discusses the disruption of helium supply chains due to conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz, noting the role of Qatar's LNG production and the impact on industries reliant on helium, such as MRI scans. It cites sources like the US Geological Survey and industry experts to explain the situation.
Fact-Check Results
“Shortage of helium will have ripple effects across medical and other industries — impacting MRI scanners, semiconductors and more.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm or refute claims about helium shortages impacting specific industries.
“The United States-Israel war on Iran, and Tehran’s response, have disrupted about one-third of global supplies of helium.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify claims about the US-Israel war disrupting global helium supplies.
“This is largely due to shipping restrictions and the halt of production by a chief helium producer, Qatar.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to assess causes of helium supply disruptions mentioned in the claim.
“In 2025, Qatar produced about 63 million cubic metres of helium, constituting a third of the roughly 190 million cubic metres of helium produced globally, according to the US Geological Survey.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify Qatar's helium production figures or USGS data cited.
“On March 2, Ebrahim Jabari... announced that the strait was 'closed'... shipping through the strait has been significantly reduced.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm Iran's announcement or its impact on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iranian officials have insisted that the strait is not completely closed... traffic through the strait has ground almost to a halt.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify Iranian officials' statements about Strait of Hormuz closures.
“QatarEnergy... said annual exports of the cooling element would drop by 14 percent each year.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm QatarEnergy's export projections or reductions.
“Helium typically has to be transported within 45 days of being liquified... revert to gas that escapes containers and into the atmosphere.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify helium transportation timelines or atmospheric escape claims.
“Virtually all of Qatar’s exported helium normally leaves the country by ship through the Strait of Hormuz.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm shipping routes for Qatar's helium exports.
“Helium is extracted as a by-product during the production of LNG... disruptions to the production of LNG inadvertently cut helium supply.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify the relationship between LNG production disruptions and helium supply.
“Airgas... declared force majeure last week, announcing that it was cutting its ship”
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“Qatar’s state-run energy firm QatarEnergy... halted LNG production following Iranian attacks on its operational facilities...”
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“The attack caused three fires and wiped out about 17 percent of Qatar’s LNG export capacity... estimated $20bn in lost annual revenue...”
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“The US is the largest producer of helium worldwide, producing 81 million cubic metres – more than 40 percent of global supplies.”
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“Repairs will sideline 12.8 million tonnes of LNG production per year for three to five years...”
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“No other element can be cooled to temperatures as low as helium... 0 Kelvin, the lowest temperature possible.”
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“MRI machines use superconducting magnets that heat up and need to be cooled. Helium cooling allows the magnets to generate magnetic fields powerful enough to create clear images of the inside of the human body.”
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“South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China are the biggest consumers of helium from Qatar.”
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“About a quarter of the helium used worldwide is used for the cooling of superconducting magnets, and demand is on the rise, according to the German engineering group Siemens.”
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