Trump Threatens Major Retaliation Over Iran-Qatar Gas Field Conflict
US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, threatening to destroy a significant Iranian gas field if Tehran attacks Qatar again. This threat follows escalating tensions after recent strikes involving Iran, Israel, and Qatar.
The warning came after Israel reportedly targeted Iran's South Pars gas field, part of the world's largest natural gas reserve. In retaliation, Iran struck an energy complex in Qatar, causing extensive damage and triggering a surge in global energy prices.
Although Israel has not officially confirmed the strike on the South Pars field, President Trump stated that the US was unaware of Israel's actions. He described Israel's response as a "violent lash out" at Iran, motivated by anger over recent Middle Eastern developments.
Conflict in the region has intensified since the US and Israel conducted broad strikes against Iran on 28 February. Tehran has since launched attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states. Additionally, Israel is engaged in conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, displacing over a million people.
Oil prices surged to nearly $110 (£83) per barrel following Israel's strike on the offshore South Pars site, located between Iran and Qatar.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of severe repercussions, stating:
"Consequences beyond control, the scope of which would engulf the entire world"
Verified images of the Israeli strike showed smoke rising from at least two impact sites.
Iran retaliated by attacking Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial area on Wednesday and early Thursday. Ras Laffan hosts the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facility.
Following the initial attack, QatarEnergy, the state-owned petroleum company, reported "extensive damage" to the site but confirmed all personnel were safe. After a second strike, Qatar's interior ministry stated that all fires were controlled and no injuries were reported.
In a forceful social media post early Thursday, President Trump clarified:
"Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with" Israel's attack on the Iranian gas field, and Iran's retaliatory strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan were "unjustifiably and unfairly" conducted.
He further warned:
If Iran did strike Qatar again, the US would "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".
Trump added that he preferred to avoid authorizing such destruction due to its long-term implications for Iran but emphasized:
"If Qatar's LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so".
Prior to this statement, the Wall Street Journal cited unnamed US officials indicating that President Trump had supported the strike on South Pars as a message to Iran regarding its restrictions on tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, but did not want additional strikes.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman condemned Israel's targeting of facilities linked to Iran's South Pars field, which is an extension of Qatar's North Field, calling it a "dangerous and irresponsible step." The United Arab Emirates and Oman also denounced the attack.
The Qatari government described the initial Iranian attack on its Ras Laffan oil site as "brazen" and a "direct threat to its national security and the stability of the region."
The ministry stated:
"The Iranian side continues its escalatory policies that are pushing the region toward the abyss and drawing in countries that are not parties to this crisis into the circle of conflict."
It added that Qatar "reserves its right to respond." Following these events, two Iranian diplomats and their staff were ordered to leave Qatar within 24 hours.
The attacks have further destabilized energy markets. Early Thursday trading saw gas prices rise more than 25% on wholesale markets in the UK and Europe before easing slightly. European gas prices remain more than double the levels prior to the conflict.
