Trump Discloses Warning to Israeli PM Over Iran Gas Field Strike
US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he explicitly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an attack on Iran's South Pars Gas Field. This revelation comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, following recent ballistic missile strikes by Iran.
Direct Conversation on Military Actions
When questioned about discussions with Netanyahu regarding potential strikes on oil and gas facilities, President Trump confirmed, "Yeah, I did. I told him, don't do that. He won't do that." However, he later clarified the nature of their coordination, noting, "We didn't discuss. We're independent. We get along great. It's coordinated. But on occasion, he'll do something. And if I don't like it, so we're not doing that anymore."
Background of Escalating Conflict
The remarks follow Iran's ballistic missile attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, which targeted the world's largest liquefaction facility. These strikes caused significant damage to QatarEnergy's LNG operations and the Pearl GTL Gas-to-Liquids plant, prompting emergency responses to contain fires, though no casualties were reported.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump asserted that Washington had no prior knowledge of the Israeli action, describing it as an act of anger. He detailed, "Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit."
US Stance and Diplomatic Fallout
President Trump emphasized that neither the US nor Qatar were aware of the attacks beforehand. He warned that Israel would refrain from targeting the South Pars Field unless Iran initiates further aggression against Qatar. Additionally, he stated that Washington would not hesitate to authorize forceful measures against Tehran if Qatar's energy infrastructure is threatened again.
In a related development, Qatar has declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian Embassy, along with their staff, as "persona non grata." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that these individuals must leave the country within 24 hours, marking a significant diplomatic escalation in the region.
