Iran targets Gulf countries' energy infrastructure after Israeli strike on gas field
Iran launched a series of retaliatory strikes against the vital energy infrastructure in nearby Gulf states after Israel hit its largest gas field Wednesday -- a "dangerous escalation" that deepened the crisis and sent oil prices surging.
In response to Israel's initial strike, Iran issued evacuation orders for several energy assets in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying the facilities had become "direct and legitimate targets," according to semi-official Mehr News Agency.
"Previously, clear and repeated warnings were given to your rulers about entering this dangerous path and gambling with the fate of their nations," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement.
Both Qatar and the UAE sharply criticized Israel's initial attack, with the Qatari foreign minister calling it a "dangerous & irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region," in a social media post.
In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry also condemned Iran's attack, calling it a "dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of the state's sovereignty, as well as a direct threat to its national security and the stability of the region."
Among the retaliatory strikes, Iran hit the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Ras Laffan in Qatar -- the most serious attack on the country's energy facilities since the start of the war.
President Donald Trump in a social media post late Wednesday night said neither the U.S. nor Qatar was aware Israel would attack the South Pars Gas Field and called for Israel to not do so again unless Iran continues attacking Qatar's liquefied national gas facilities.
"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar," Trump said.
Trump said if Iran does so, the U.S. will respond and "massively blow up" the South Pars gas field.
"I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar's LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so," Trump said in the post
Iran's strikes in Qatar caused fires and "extensive damage," said Qatar Energy, the state-owned oil and gas company.
About a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas is ordinarily shipped from Ras Laffan, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it a "dangerous escalation."
Later, energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were targeted by a barrage of missiles and drones, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
Missiles also targeted the Habshan gas facilities in Abu Dhabi, according to the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The Ministry emphasized that this terrorist attack, which targeted the country's infrastructure and oil facilities, represents a direct threat to the security and stability of the region and its people, as well as to global energy security."
The attacks followed Iran's vow to retaliate against some of the energy facilities of its Gulf state neighbors after Israel attacked the Iranian part of the South Pars gas field -- the largest in the world and which Iran shares with Qatar.
The list of targets issued by Iran included Ras Laffan as well as others facilities that produce refined products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel -- but not crude oil.
The list of potential targets could impact over 1.25 million barrels per day of oil refining capacity in the region, well as natural gas production, according to Kpler's lead oil analyst, Matt Smith. Global oil refining capacity was estimated at 103.5 million barrels per day in 2023, according to the EIA.
While the loss of output would amount to just over 1% of global refining capacity it could still have an impact on gas prices.
Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said an attack at these refining facilities could have an even more significant impact on consumers at the pump than the loss of crude oil.
"This is clear escalation in response to Iranian gas infrastructure being targeted -- it is the upping of the ante," Smith added.
Following the strikes, oil in the U.S. was trading is up nearly 3% at $99 per barrel. Global oil was up about 5% at $108 a barrel.
Iran's attacks on energy infrastructure comes as the Strait of Hormuz -- the critical waterway off the southern coast of Iran that facilitates shipping for about 20% of oil consumed worldwide -- remains essentially closed, choking the global oil supply.
