President Donald Trump issued a new threat to Iran on Wednesday night, saying in part that the U.S. would “massively blow up” the South Pars Gas Field if Iran retaliates against Qatar. An earlier strike damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy hub, the Associated Press reports.
Why It Matters
South Pars is a critical facility for Iran’s natural-gas production, and attacks on the complex could threaten global energy security in the region.
Gasoline prices in the United States have continued climbing since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, as AAA reports the average cost for regular at the pump is $3.842 and $5.068 for diesel.
What To Know
In a post to Truth Social, Trump said: “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.
“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.
“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. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
