Trump Privately Approved South Pars Strike, Then Publicly Claims Israel Won’t Hit Iran Gas Fields Again and Threatens Massive U.S. Retaliation if Qatar Is Attacked
Reports indicate the Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field was coordinated with and approved by the White House, even as President Trump publicly denied prior U.S. knowledge and declared that “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL” on the field. After Iran’s regional retaliatory strikes that pushed oil prices higher and prompted Gulf condemnations—with Qatar blaming Israel—Trump warned that if Iran attacks Qatar again the U.S. would “massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field.”
📌 Key Facts
- Axios reports the Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars natural gas facility was coordinated with and approved by the White House, a claim that contradicts President Trump’s later public statement that the United States 'knew nothing about this particular attack.'
- Qatar blamed Israel for the South Pars strike and the UAE’s Foreign Ministry called the attack a 'dangerous escalation.'
- After Iran’s first missile strike on Ras Laffan, Qatari officials urgently contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff and CENTCOM commanders to ask whether the U.S. had prior knowledge of the Israeli strike, prompting a scramble to arrange a Trump–emir call (Axios).
- In a Truth Social post after Iran’s second attack on Qatari gas facilities, Trump declared 'NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL' on South Pars unless Iran again attacks Qatar, and warned the U.S. would 'massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field' if Iran did (Axios).
- Trump publicly framed the original Israeli strike as Israel having 'violently lashed out' in response to Middle East events and insisted Qatar 'was in no way, shape, or form, involved' (Axios).
- PBS reports Israeli forces killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail (Esmaeil) Khatib in an overnight strike; earlier targeted killings included Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of unspecified 'significant surprises.'
- PBS reports Iran launched strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and also attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates the same day, actions Tehran framed as a strategy to drive up oil prices.
- The conflict has disrupted shipping and energy markets: PBS says Iran has made the Strait of Hormuz nearly impassable (with only a few ships getting through), Brent crude jumped about 5% to over $108 per barrel (roughly 50% higher since the war began Feb. 28), the U.S. Treasury eased sanctions on Venezuela to allow business with PDVSA to boost supplies, and President Trump expressed growing frustration that allies have not sent warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
📊 Relevant Data
The South Pars gas field supplies more than 75 percent of Iran's total gas consumption, making it critical to the country's energy supply and economy.
South Pars injects over 165 bcm of gas into national grid — Tehran Times
A shutdown of Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG plant could remove up to 20% of the global LNG supply, potentially triggering sharp price spikes in global gas markets.
Ras Laffan LNG shutdown could remove 20% of global supply — Global LNG Hub
In 2025, nearly 15 million barrels per day of crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for nearly 34% of global crude oil trade.
Strait of Hormuz — IEA
In 2024, Hispanic households in the US faced an energy burden 24% higher than the national average, meaning they spend a larger share of their income on energy costs.
The Unseen Cost: Why Hispanic Communities Pay More for Energy — Hispanic Energy Council
As of 2025, racial minorities comprise 52% of enlisted US Navy service members, compared to 31% of officers, indicating underrepresentation in leadership roles.
US Naval Academy Ends Race Consideration in Admissions — US News
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Axios reports that Israeli and U.S. officials say the Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars natural gas facility was coordinated with and approved by the White House, contradicting Trump’s later public claim that 'the United States knew nothing about this particular attack.'
- Qatari officials, after Iran’s first missile strike on Ras Laffan, urgently contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff and CENTCOM commanders demanding to know whether the U.S. had prior knowledge of the Israeli strike, triggering a scramble to arrange a Trump–emir call.
- In a Truth Social post after Iran’s second attack on Qatari gas facilities, Trump declared that 'NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL' on the South Pars field unless Iran again attacks 'a very innocent Qatar,' and warned that if Iran does, the U.S. will 'massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field' with unprecedented force.
- Trump framed the original Israeli strike as Israel having 'violently lashed out' 'out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East,' and explicitly asserted Qatar 'was in no way, shape, or form, involved,' even as U.S. and Israeli officials tell Axios his claim that Washington was unaware is inaccurate.
- Confirms that Israeli forces killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail (Esmaeil) Khatib in an overnight strike, along with earlier killings of Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani.
- Reports Iran struck Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and also attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the same day, explicitly framing this as a strategy to drive up oil prices.
- Notes that Iran has made the Strait of Hormuz nearly impassable, with only a few ships (including some from India and Turkey) getting through, while Iran claims the waterway is closed only to the U.S. and many allies.
- Updates oil market data: Brent crude has surged another 5% to over $108 per barrel and is now up close to 50% since the war began on Feb. 28.
- Adds that the U.S. Treasury Department has just eased sanctions on Venezuela, allowing U.S. companies to do business with PDVSA to boost global oil supplies and counter Iran‑war‑driven price spikes.
- Reports that Qatar blames Israel for the strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and that the UAE’s Foreign Ministry denounced the attack as a “dangerous escalation.”
- Quotes Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz promising unspecified “significant surprises” after Khatib’s killing and notes two people were killed near Tel Aviv in Iranian attacks.
- Describes President Trump’s growing frustration that allies have not sent warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.