Netanyahu Affirms Israel's Solo Action in Iranian Gas Field Attack
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel "acted alone" in carrying out an attack on an Iranian gas field amid escalating tensions over assaults on energy infrastructure throughout the region.
Israel targeted Iran's South Pars, which forms part of the world's largest natural gas field. In retaliation, Tehran struck an energy complex in Qatar and launched attacks on other energy facilities in the Gulf.
These attacks caused a surge in energy prices. Subsequently, US President Donald Trump posted that he had not been informed about the attacks beforehand.
The assault on Iran's principal natural gas field has sparked questions regarding the unity between Israel and the US in their strategic objectives against Iran.
Netanyahu's Statements on Coordination and US Involvement
During a news conference on Thursday, Netanyahu revealed that Trump had requested no further attacks on energy targets.
Earlier that day, news agency cited three unnamed Israeli officials who claimed the South Pars attack had been coordinated with the US in advance, though they were not surprised by Trump's reaction.
Netanyahu also denied accusations that Israel had involved the US in the conflict without consent or "misled" Trump, emphasizing that no one dictates the US president's actions.
"No one can tell the US leader what to do," Netanyahu said.
Escalation of Conflict and Regional Impact
The attacks on energy infrastructure represent an escalation in the conflict initiated by the US and Israel against Iran. Iran had already responded by restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Approximately one-fifth of the world's daily consumption of 100 million barrels of oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies along part of Iran's coastline.
Following Iran's attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial area, which houses the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing plant, QatarEnergy announced that about 17% of its export capacity would be impacted.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani, warned that the attack would have "significant repercussions for global energy supplies" and described it as a "very dangerous escalation."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran would show "zero restraint" if its infrastructure were targeted again.
Energy Market Reactions and US Policy Considerations
Gas prices, already rising since the conflict began, surged following the Iranian attack on Qatar. The UK benchmark briefly peaked at nearly 183p per therm on Thursday before retreating to 154.8p, marking an 11.3% increase from Wednesday. European prices also increased by over 10%.
Meanwhile, the US is considering lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil as it seeks to mitigate the impact on energy markets.
Netanyahu on Israel's Military Actions and Iranian Regime
At the news conference, Netanyahu asserted that Israel was inflicting substantial damage on Iran's military capabilities and had attacked Iran's navy in the Caspian Sea.
He stated that Israel aims to weaken the Iranian regime but emphasized that it is up to the Iranian people to decide whether to overthrow their government.
"We can create the conditions, but they have to exploit those conditions at a certain point," Netanyahu said.
"If [the regime] survives it will be a lot weaker, shorn of industries it built over decades."
Reported Iranian Missile Attack on Israel
Also on Thursday, verified footage showed fire and smoke at an oil refinery in Haifa in northern Israel following a reported Iranian missile attack.
Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that damage to the country's electricity grid in the north was "localised and not significant."
