Early Thursday morning, Qatar Energy issued a statement that sent shockwaves through already-rattled global energy markets. As tensions in the US–Israel–Iran conflict escalated, the war took a dramatic turn on March 19 when Iran targeted Qatar’s key energy infrastructure.
Qatar Energy, the country’s largest energy company, confirmed that Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is home to the world’s biggest LNG facilities and the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant, was hit by Iranian missiles.
The strike targeting the world's largest LNG plant also comes after Israel killed three top Iranian officials in two days this week. Iran confirmed on March 18 that it lost Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in an overnight attack by Israel.
Former US President Donald Trump appeared to soften his tone, distancing the United States from the Israeli strike on South Pars and warning Iran against further attacks on Qatar.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, claimed the US had no prior knowledge of Israel’s attack on South Pars and stressed that Qatar was not involved.
He suggested that Iran’s strike on Ras Laffan was based on a misunderstanding, calling it “unjustified and unfair.”
At the same time, Trump issued a warning to Tehran. While promising that no further Israeli attacks on South Pars would take place, he said any future Iranian strike on Qatar would trigger a massive US response.
