WASHINGTON/DOHA/ABU DHABI: US President Donald Trump declared that Israel will not strike Iran’s gas facilities again, as tensions escalate after retaliatory attacks by Tehran targeting Gulf energy infrastructure.
Trump warned that Washington could launch a devastating strike on Iran’s key South Pars gas field if Tehran carries out further attacks on Qatar’s energy infrastructure.
In a lengthy statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed that Israel had struck Iran’s South Pars gas field but stressed that the United States had no prior knowledge of the operation.
“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,” Trump said.
Statement from President Trump on South Pars Gas Field: pic.twitter.com/YrjhDdGTxP
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 19, 2026
He added that Iran, unaware of these circumstances, retaliated by targeting Qatar’s gas infrastructure.
“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,” he wrote.
Trump declared that Israel would refrain from further strikes on the South Pars field unless Iran escalates again.
“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,” he stated.
He warned of severe consequences if such attacks continue.
“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 added that he hoped such escalation could be avoided but signaled readiness to act if necessary.
“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.”
His remarks came after Iran launched missile strikes targeting Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city—home to one of the world’s largest gas facilities—causing significant damage and raising alarm over global energy supplies.
The escalation also spilled into the United Arab Emirates, where authorities reported disruptions linked to missile interceptions.
“Abu Dhabi authorities are responding to incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and at the Bab oil field caused by falling debris from the successful interception of missiles,” Abu Dhabi’s media office said in a post on X.
The rapidly intensifying confrontation has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly as energy infrastructure across the Gulf becomes a primary target, with potential global economic repercussions.
