US President Donald Trump has threatened to “massively blow up” Iran’s South Pars gas field if Tehran launches further attacks on Qatar, marking a sharp escalation in tensions over critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran against continued retaliation following its strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex, while insisting that the United States had no prior knowledge of Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars facility.
The warning came after Iran launched coordinated strikes across the Gulf, targeting Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in response to earlier attacks on its energy infrastructure. Qatar confirmed that its Ras Laffan facility the world’s largest liquefied natural gas plant suffered “extensive damage,” though no casualties were reported.
The Ras Laffan Industrial City disruption sent shockwaves through global markets, with oil prices rising by about 4 percent and briefly exceeding $110 per barrel as fears grew over supply disruptions.
At the centre of the crisis is the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve, jointly shared by Iran and Qatar. The strategic importance of the field has made it a focal point of the escalating conflict, with Trump warning that any further Iranian aggression could trigger devastating consequences for Tehran’s energy sector.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, Trump also suggested that Israel would refrain from further strikes on South Pars if Iran halted attacks on Qatar, underscoring the global economic risks tied to the facility. Israel has not officially commented on the reported strike.
Regional fallout has intensified, with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar condemning the attack on South Pars and warning it poses a serious threat to global energy security.
In Qatar, fires at Ras Laffan have been brought under control, but the damage forced a shutdown that rattled energy markets. Meanwhile, the UAE reported disruptions at the Habshan gas facility and Bab oil field after debris from intercepted strikes caused damage, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted attacks targeting its eastern region and the capital, Riyadh.
Diplomatic tensions have also worsened, with Qatar expelling two Iranian diplomats and Saudi Arabia warning it reserves the right to respond militarily.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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