Middle East Oil and Gas Infrastructure

After an Israeli strike hit Iran’s South Pars gas field — an operation U.S. and Israeli officials say was coordinated with and approved by the White House even as President Trump publicly insisted the U.S. “knew nothing” and that Israel “acted alone” — Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on Gulf energy facilities and shipping, sharply driving up oil prices and disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. Privately having backed the South Pars operation, Trump pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt further Israeli attacks (Netanyahu said Israel acted alone but agreed to hold off), while publicly warning he could “massively” destroy South Pars if Iran again struck Qatari LNG sites and U.S. and regional leaders scrambled diplomatic and military responses.