President Trump warned on Truth Social that the United States would “massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field” if Iran attacks Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, after Tehran struck Qatari energy infrastructure in retaliation for an attack on Iran’s South Pars field.
Qatar reported that Iran launched missiles at Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s largest LNG export terminals, causing “extensive damage” and sizeable fires at the Pearl GTL facility and other installations, though no casualties were initially reported. Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the strike and announced the expulsion of Iran’s military and security attachés.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center said a vessel was reportedly hit by an unknown projectile near Ras Laffan; the ship and its crew were not identified, and all crew were reportedly safe. Iran has carried out a string of attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf over recent weeks in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and threatening global energy supplies.
Trump’s post insisted the United States “knew nothing” about Israel’s reported strike on Iran’s South Pars field and called Qatar “in no way, shape, or form, involved with it.” He declared that Israel would make no further attacks on South Pars “unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar,” in which case the U.S. — “with or without the help or consent of Israel” — would take decisive action against the field.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), via semi-official outlets, said it has begun targeting energy infrastructure in other countries in retaliation for strikes against Iranian energy facilities and warned of further, more severe attacks if such actions continue. Iranian state TV had earlier warned of imminent strikes on oil and gas sites in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Regional responses and military moves continue to escalate. The United Kingdom has sent a small team of military planners to U.S. Central Command to work on options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran’s attacks and mine and drone activity have effectively paralyzed for many commercial vessels. NATO and other allies say they are coordinating on ways to restore safe passage through the strait, though some partners have been reluctant to join offensive operations while strikes are ongoing.
The U.S. military says it has struck thousands of targets in Iran and used heavy munitions against hardened missile sites along Iran’s coast. CENTCOM reported more than 7,800 targets struck and significant damage to Iranian naval and missile capabilities. The campaign has included efforts to neutralize anti-ship cruise missile sites said to threaten international shipping.
Domestically and politically, the Senate recently defeated a resolution led by Sen. Cory Booker that would have sought to limit the president’s authority to expand hostilities against Iran. High-level U.S. officials, including the director of national intelligence, have testified that the Iranian regime is “largely degraded” but still capable of attacks in the region. A senior Pentagon official and intelligence leaders differ with former NCTC director Joe Kent, who resigned saying Iran posed no imminent threat.
The broader region is bearing the humanitarian and security costs. The UAE reported intercepting dozens of Iranian missiles and drones and has recorded civilian and military casualties from strikes across the Gulf. Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Iran, and retaliatory Iranian strikes on Israel, have produced civilian deaths and widespread damage in several countries. The ongoing conflict has driven energy prices higher, prompted temporary U.S. policy moves such as a 60-day Jones Act waiver to ease domestic fuel flows, and spurred diplomatic efforts including a Saudi-hosted meeting of regional foreign ministers.
Amid the escalation, maritime trade groups, energy firms and regional governments are monitoring damage to infrastructure, the safety of shipping lanes, and the risk of a wider conflagration as both state and proxy forces remain active across multiple fronts.
