Trump threatens to strike world's largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again

US President Donald Trump pledged the US would "massively blow up the entirety” of the world’s largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again.

Trump made his threat on social media on Wednesday night against Iran’s South Pars natural gas field after Iranian missiles hit Qatar. The Iranian attack was in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the South Pars field earlier on Wednesday.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has roiled energy markets as the conflict escalates pressure on the region’s energy sector. The price of oil has surged on international markets, increasing the cost of gasoline and other goods while squeezing the global economy.

Global oil prices rose on news of the South Pars attack due to fears of Iranian retaliation on Gulf energy infrastructure.

Trump said in his post that the US "knew nothing” about the attack, but a person familiar with the matter said earlier on Wednesday that the US was informed about Israel’s plans to strike the gas field but did not take part.

Hours after the attack on the field, authorities in Qatar said a ballistic missile hit the country’s key natural gas site, sparking a fire that caused "extensive” damage, and Qatar ordered some Iranian Embassy officials out of the country.

Associated Press