‘Israel violently lashed out’: Trump says US ‘knew nothing’ of South Pars gas field strike; warns Iran after Qatar LNG hub hit
US President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that the strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field was carried out by Israel, adding that neither the United States nor Qatar had any involvement.In a social media post, Trump said Israel had targeted a section of the major gas facility “out of anger” over developments in the Middle East, stressing that Washington had no prior knowledge of the attack and that Qatar was “in no way” involved.
He claimed Iran responded without full information, launching what he described as an unjustified strike on part of Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.Trump warned that Israel would refrain from further attacks on the South Pars field unless Iran escalated by targeting Qatar again. In such a scenario, he said, the United States would retaliate with overwhelming force against the facility, even without Israel’s involvement.While cautioning that he did not want to authorise such large-scale destruction due to its long-term consequences, Trump said the US would act decisively if Qatar’s LNG assets were attacked again.“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen,” wrote Trump.“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,” he said. “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” added Trump.Strikes on energy infrastructure have intensified the conflict, with Israel targeting Iran’s South Pars gas field — the world’s largest natural gas reserve — prompting a sharp escalation from Tehran.Iran condemned the attack, warning of “uncontrollable consequences,” and responded by launching missile strikes on energy facilities across the Gulf. Qatar said Iranian missiles hit its liquefied natural gas sites, causing major fires and extensive damage, though no casualties were reported. The country had already halted production earlier in the conflict, and further damage could delay its return to global energy markets.Iran also targeted key oil and gas facilities in the United Arab Emirates, including the Habshan gas plant and the Bab field, actions Abu Dhabi described as a “dangerous escalation.” Qatar, in turn, ordered Iranian embassy officials to leave within 24 hours.The widening attacks have increased pressure on Gulf states such as Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, which have so far focused on defence despite repeated strikes on their energy assets, military bases and civilian infrastructure.Global energy markets have reacted sharply. Oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising close to 50% since the conflict began, amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping route for about a fifth of the world’s oil. Iran has restricted passage through the strait, further fuelling supply concerns.Meanwhile, Israel has continued targeting senior Iranian leadership, including the reported killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib and other top security figures. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages on Israel, including strikes that caused casualties in the occupied West Bank.
