U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States had “no prior knowledge” of Israel’s reported strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, as tensions across the Middle East deepen following a wave of retaliatory attacks.
In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned Iran against further escalation after it launched counter-strikes targeting key energy infrastructure in the Gulf region.
Among the targets was Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex in Qatar, where authorities confirmed “extensive damage” but no casualties, according to the state-owned petroleum company.
The attack came after Iran’s South Pars field, part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve jointly shared with Qatar was hit in a strike widely attributed to Israel, though Israeli officials have yet to issue a formal response.
Following the incident, Iran expanded its retaliation beyond Qatar, launching strikes on multiple Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The escalation has already rattled global energy markets, with oil prices jumping by about four per cent and briefly exceeding $110 per barrel, a level that could have far-reaching implications for inflation and global economic stability.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the conflict is also becoming evident. In the West Bank, three women were reportedly killed after shrapnel from an intercepted missile struck a beauty salon, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
