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While Iran consumes most of its gas domestically, minimizing the immediate global supply impact, the strikes highlight a growing vulnerability of Persian Gulf energy facilities. Iran’s own Ministry of Oil confirmed via social media that multiple sites tied to the South Pars field were hit, marking some of the most significant damage in nearly three weeks of U.S.-Israeli operations against Iranian energy targets.
State-run media also reported that facilities in Asaluyeh, a southern Iranian city central to the nation’s energy production, were struck in the assault. The market responded immediately: Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged over 7% to $111.23 by late afternoon, according to CNBC.
Tensions have been building after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all except “those who are attacking us and their allies.” He also threatened strikes on American energy infrastructure in retaliation for attacks on Iranian oil facilities. Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran’s energy network but indicated he is reserving direct action “for later,” though he cautioned neighboring Gulf nations against further missile launches.
Israel’s prior strikes on Iranian oil depots reportedly alarmed U.S. officials, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth noting that Israel is “pursuing different objectives” in these operations. Trump now confirms Israel carried out another attack without U.S. knowledge and emphasizes that Qatar was “in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.”
Trump’s warning to Tehran was unambiguous: “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.”
Trump emphasized he is reluctant to authorize a full-scale strike due to its long-term consequences for Iran but made clear that repeated aggression against Qatar would trigger immediate retaliation. “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,” he said.
This latest escalation comes amid Trump’s prior threats to “finish off” Iran, signaling a potential major shift in U.S. policy toward Tehran. As the situation develops, markets and global leaders remain on high alert for the next move in what could become a serious confrontation across the Gulf.
