Trump: Israel Struck Iran’s South Pars
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Israel hit a major facility known as the South Pars gas field in Iran. He says the U.S. “knew nothing” about that strike. Iran responded by attacking part of Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex, according to Qatar’s officials.
Qatari officials described the damage as “extensive damage” and called the move “dangerous escalation, flagrant violation of state sovereignty, and a direct threat to its national security and regional stability.” The strikes sent energy markets reeling and raised new fears about attacks on Gulf infrastructure.
Analysts note South Pars is a huge facility. Iran uses much of its gas domestically, so global supply impacts may be limited. Still, this is a clear escalation. Attacks on major energy hubs change the game fast. Oil jumped. Energy traders reacted within minutes.
Per CNBC, “Brent crude prices, the international benchmark, surged more than 7% to $111.23 by 4:52 p.m. ET.” Volatility like that forces quick decisions from policymakers and markets alike.
President Donald Trump’s public line is straightforward and blunt. He confirms an Israeli strike hit South Pars, says the United States didn’t know about it beforehand, and blames Iran for striking Qatar’s LNG facilities in response. Trump warned that further attacks on Qatar’s LNG would bring a severe U.S. reaction.
Full statement below:
“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.
Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility. NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar – In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.
I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
The statement is stark. Trump says he would prefer to avoid massive strikes, but he makes clear the U.S. could respond directly if Gulf energy infrastructure is hit again. That raises the stakes for everyone in the region.
Officials in Tehran and Doha are trading accusations. Israel hasn’t publicly taken credit. U.S. officials reportedly were surprised by recent Israeli operations. If those reports are right, the region is shifting faster than many expected.
For now, markets, militaries, and diplomats are all watching. Shipping lanes, energy hubs, and allied commitments are on the line. Any new strike on Gulf energy sites could force quick escalation decisions.