“I do not want to authorise this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran,” Trump said, but added that he would “not hesitate to do so,” if Qatar’s liquified natural gas sites were attacked again.
Click here for live updatesQatar’s state-run energy firm said new strikes on the main gas hub on Thursday (March 19) caused “extensive” damage.
In a statement,
QatarEnergy said “several of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities were the subject of missile attacks, causing sizeable fires and extensive further damage” after a previous attack.The company noted that the earlier attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City on March 18 had already caused extensive damage to a gas-to-liquids facility.
On March 18, Israel killed Iran intelligence minister Esmail Khatib and reportedly attacked an Iranian offshore natural gas field.
Iran condemned the strike on its South Pars natural gas field, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of “uncontrollable consequences” that “could engulf the entire world”. Iran escalated strikes on its Gulf neighbours’ energy facilities and striked gas facilities in Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
In retaliation, Qatar has ordered Iranian Embassy officials to leave the country within 24 hours.
The price of oil surged another 5% to over $108 a barrel on international markets as Iran continued to squeeze the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.
Also, the US was informed about Israel’s plans to strike Iran’s South Pars natural gas field, but the former did not take part in it, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, would not say if the Trump administration agreed with the Israeli decision to attack the gas field.
