Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran Over Qatar Attacks
President Donald Trump warns that the United States will destroy Iran’s South Pars natural gas field if Tehran launches further strikes on Qatar’s facilities. In a strongly worded Truth Social post, Trump states that any repeat attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas fields prompts a response of unprecedented force against the entirety of South Pars.
Qatar’s Ras Laffan, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility, suffered a second hit early Thursday, following Wednesday’s assault where Iran fired five ballistic missiles. Four missiles were intercepted, but the fifth caused a fire. No injuries occurred in the latest incident.
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Oil prices climb sharply amid escalating attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure. Brent crude rises 4.27% to $112 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate increases 2.73% to $98.95 in early Asian trading.
Qatar reports extensive damage around Ras Laffan from Iranian missiles. The UAE halts operations at its Habshan gas facility due to missile incidents, with debris impacting the Bab oil field. Saudi Arabia’s air defenses destroy 19 drones in the Eastern Province and four missiles aimed at Riyadh. A vessel east of the Strait of Hormuz catches fire from an unknown projectile.
The US considers deploying more military assets to protect shipping through the strait, as Iran effectively restricts access, carrying about one-fifth of global oil.
Pentagon Requests $200 Billion for Ongoing Iran Campaign
The Pentagon urges approval for over $200 billion in additional defense funding from Congress to sustain operations against Iran. Nearly three weeks into US and Israeli strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s security apparatus, costs mount for taxpayers.
Trump asserts Iran poses an imminent threat through nuclear ambitions and long-range missiles.
US Senate Rejects Limits on Trump’s War Powers
The Republican-led Senate defeats a Democratic push to require congressional approval for further Iran strikes, voting along party lines. This marks the second rejection of such a War Powers Resolution.
Trump Denies US or Qatar Role in Israeli Strike on South Pars
Trump clarifies that Israel acted alone in striking South Pars, with no US or Qatari involvement or prior knowledge. “The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it,” he writes.
Regional and Global Ripples
Kuwait closes its Grand Mosque for Eid al-Fitr, citing regional tensions, as the holiday spans Thursday and Friday, ending Ramadan.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urges citizens to avoid panic-buying fuel amid localized shortages from surged demand. “Our fuel supply is currently secure,” he states. “Please do not take more fuel than you need.” The government appoints a fuel supply taskforce and probes major suppliers for anti-competitive practices. The Reserve Bank flags the Iran conflict as a material economic risk.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller declares Iran will not succeed with “energy blackmail, missile blackmail or nuclear blackmail.”
“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”
