Trump Rages, Threatens to Destroy Iran's Largest Gas Field

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Iran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting Qatar’s energy facilities, prompting US President Donald Trump to express fury and threaten to blow up the entire South Pars gas field. For context, the South Pars gas field is the world’s largest natural gas reserve, jointly owned by Iran and Qatar. Tehran attacked Qatar’s key energy sites after Israel bombed Iran’s portion of the South Pars field, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict and causing energy prices to surge. Qatar stated on Wednesday (18/3) that Iranian missiles caused “extensive damage” to Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities. Trump also denied prior knowledge of Israel’s attack on South Pars, rejecting reports that it was coordinated and approved by his administration. In a social media post on Wednesday (18/3) evening US time, Trump said that “the United States knew nothing about this specific attack, and the state of Qatar was not involved in it at all, nor did it know the attack was coming.” Trump also urged Israel to end attacks on the South Pars gas field unless Iran “recklessly” decides to attack Qatar. In that case, the US would “massively blow up the entire South Pars gas field with force and power never seen or witnessed by Iran before,” quoted from CNBC International, Thursday (19/3/2026). The attack on South Pars marks the first time Israel has targeted Iran’s natural gas production infrastructure since the conflict began on 28 February. Iran has fired ballistic missiles at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, with QatarEnergy stating the strike caused “extensive damage” requiring emergency response teams to extinguish fires at the site. No casualties have been reported. Separately, Reuters reported that the US government is considering deploying thousands of US troops to the Middle East, heightening prospects for further escalation. As tensions rise, world leaders are working hard to contain the Middle East conflict amid concerns over deepening chaos in the global energy market. Europe Calls for War De-escalation After phone calls with Qatar’s Emir and Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate halt to targeting civilian infrastructure. “It is in our common interest to immediately implement a moratorium on attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities and water supplies,” he said in a post on X on Thursday. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned on Wednesday of a “very serious crisis” if global supply chains continue to be disrupted, calling for a path to de-escalation and cessation of hostilities after US and Israeli military objectives are achieved, according to local media reports. Gulf States in Emergency The United Arab Emirates described the targeting of energy facilities linked to the South Pars field in Iran as a “serious escalation,” posing a “direct threat to global energy security” with severe environmental impacts. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry also labelled Iran’s targeting of the Habshan gas facilities and Bab field as a “terrorist attack,” risking “dangerous escalation.” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, described Israel’s attack on South Pars as a “dangerous and irresponsible step” amid rising regional tensions. The Gulf states have declared Iran’s military and security attaché and staff at the Iranian embassy in Doha as “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, also appeared to toughen his tone, reportedly saying that “the little trust that existed previously with Iran has been completely shattered.” Both political and non-political responses to Iran remain under consideration, he added. Iran Vows Revenge Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened on Wednesday (18/3) to intensify hostilities by targeting oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. In a post on X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, saying it “could have uncontrollable consequences, the scope of which could encompass the entire world.” Attacks on energy production facilities in the Middle East are deepening supply disruptions triggered by the conflict. Brent crude oil May futures rose 4% to $111.77 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude April futures climbed more than 1.3% to $97.56 per barrel. Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted since the war began, with the waterway effectively closed to most commercial shipping.