Trump: Israel Will No Longer Attack South Pars Unless Iran Retaliates
Istanbul (ANTARA) - United States President Donald Trump, on Wednesday (18/3), stated that Israel would no longer attack Iran’s South Pars gas field unless Tehran retaliates.
Trump also warned that further attacks on Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure would prompt the United States to destroy the entire facility.
“The United States was unaware of this specific attack (on the South Pars field) and the State of Qatar was in no way involved in it, nor did it know it was going to happen,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
That claim appears to contradict previous reports stating that Washington had prior knowledge of the attack but did not participate in it.
He said Iran had unfairly and without basis attacked part of Qatar’s LNG facilities in the Ras Laffan Industrial City after failing to understand the facts.
He also warned that if Qatar’s LNG infrastructure is attacked again, the United States will massively destroy the entire South Pars Gas Field with or without Israel’s involvement on a scale Iran has never seen or witnessed before.
He stated that he does not want to allow such destruction given its long-term consequences for Iran’s future, but would not hesitate if forced to act.
According to US and Israeli officials who spoke to the Axios news site, Trump’s claim of no prior knowledge is inaccurate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump had coordinated on the attack with the aim of preventing Iran from disrupting oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, they said.
Witkoff is attempting to arrange an urgent call between Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, sources told the media.
Israeli airstrikes targeted the Iranian side of the South Pars gas field on Wednesday (18/3), halting production at two major refineries.
Qatar reported two separate missile attacks in the Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wednesday (18/3) and at Qatar’s main LNG production centre on Thursday morning.
In response to those actions, Qatar declared Iran’s military and security attaché along with their staff at the Iranian embassy persona non grata.
Source: Anadolu