President Donald Trump said Israel had “violently lashed out” by striking Iran’s South Pars gas field but warned there should be no more Israeli attacks on the facility unless Iran retaliated. Trump also said the United States had no prior knowledge of the strike and that Qatar was not involved. He posted the remarks on X, blaming Israeli action on anger over recent events in the region and saying Iran was operating without the full facts when it struck part of Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.
Wednesday’s strike hit South Pars, the largest portion of a massive gas deposit shared by Iran and Qatar, and sent oil prices higher. Iran threatened retaliatory strikes on oil and gas targets across the Gulf and launched missiles toward Qatar and Saudi Arabia. QatarEnergy reported extensive damage at Ras Laffan Industrial City, a major processing hub that handles about a fifth of global LNG supplies, and later said fires and serious damage hit several LNG facilities in early Thursday attacks.
Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and foiled a drone attack on an eastern gas facility. Iranian missiles were reported to have targeted the Saudi capital during the escalation.
In his X post, Trump warned explicitly that no further Israeli strikes on the South Pars field would be acceptable unless Iran attacked Qatar, and said the United States, with or without Israeli consent, would respond forcefully if Iran attacked Qatar, threatening to destroy the entire field if necessary. Earlier reporting, including from the Wall Street Journal, had said Trump approved an Israeli plan to hit the gas field, a point his post sought to contradict.
The episode is the latest episode in a widening confrontation that began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. Since then Tehran has targeted Israeli and US diplomatic and military sites across the Gulf and warned neighboring states against hosting actions against Iran. With tensions mounting, US officials and others familiar with planning say Trump is considering sending thousands more US troops to the region, potentially to help protect oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for roughly one fifth of global oil shipments.
Foreign ministers from 12 Muslim-majority countries meeting in Riyadh condemned Iran’s strikes on Gulf neighbors and urged an immediate halt, calling attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil facilities, airports and desalination plants unjustifiable. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned that Iranian pressure could backfire and said countries reserve the right to take military action if necessary. Interceptor launches were observed near the Riyadh hotel where the meeting took place.
The UAE said it shut down its Habshan gas facility after intercepting missiles it blamed on Iran. Human rights group HRANA estimates more than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran since the US-Israeli strikes began. Lebanese authorities report about 900 dead and roughly 800,000 displaced. Iranian strikes have also killed people in Iraq and other Gulf states, and at least 13 US service members have been reported killed in the fighting.
