Washington Distances Itself from Escalating Energy Conflict
Washington: US President Donald Trump said early Thursday that Israel carried out the recent strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field without American or Qatari involvement. He emphasized that Washington had no prior knowledge of the operation, seeking to distance the United States from rising tensions in the region.
“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Moreover, he insisted that neither the US nor Qatar had any role in planning or executing the attack.
However, reports have presented conflicting accounts. The Wall Street Journal claimed that Trump had prior awareness of the strike and supported it as a warning to Tehran over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, Trump’s public statement attempted to clarify that the US did not participate directly.
Conflicting Reports Emerge as Regional Tensions Rise
Meanwhile, Israeli and regional sources confirmed that airstrikes targeted facilities linked to Iran’s gas and petrochemical sectors in South Pars and Asaluyeh. An Israeli official reportedly stated that the attack aimed at Iran’s largest gas facility and was coordinated with the United States.
In contrast, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency acknowledged the strikes but said authorities are still assessing the damage. At the same time, Qatar reportedly sought urgent clarification from US officials after the attack, questioning whether Washington had prior knowledge.
Additionally, analysts noted that gas infrastructure attacks may trigger less immediate global price shocks compared to oil facilities. Even so, the strike underscores growing instability in global energy markets.
Overall, the incident highlights deepening uncertainty as geopolitical tensions continue to threaten critical energy supply routes.
