And Trump threatened to “completely blow up” this site
An Israeli attack in mid-March on Iranian installations in the South Pars gas field marked a significant escalation in the war, prompting an angry Iran to attack key energy installations of its Gulf neighbors. And Israel attacked the same place again – .
Energy prices were already soaring before that March attack and remain high this April – something that happens mainly (but not only) due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a closure that means that already produced oil and gas cannot reach end customers in time. The new wave of attacks against energy infrastructure, including South Pars, puts additional pressure on global supply.
But what is South Pars?
South Pars is part of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, located offshore in the Persian Gulf. It is shared between Iran and Qatar, which calls its part “North Dome”.
According to Reuters, the entire gas field contains about 1,800 trillion cubic feet of usable gas — enough to meet the world’s needs for 13 years.
Natural gas from South Pars is Iran’s largest source of domestic energy supply. The country has previously suffered energy shortages due to interruptions in gas supplies, so any loss of production capacity would affect its ability to produce electricity and heat homes.
What really is the impact on a global level?
Qatar has invested billions in developing its side of the gas field and is the world’s second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), after the United States. When Israeli strikes hit parts of South Pars in June 2025, sources told CNN that the Qatari side was a “vital energy source for the US, Europe and the world.”
In retaliation for the attack on South Pars, Iran struck the Industrial City of Ras Laffan, in Qatar, causing “extensive damage”, according to state-owned QatarEnergy.
Ras Laffan is a key energy hub, processing all gas coming from North Dome. It has been mostly closed since early March, but significant damage to the facility could delay the restart of production.
Since about a fifth of global LNG supply comes from Qatar — almost all of it from Ras Laffan — any delay could have a huge effect on the price and supply of LNG.
Analysts at Wood Mackenzie, a leading energy consultancy, said on Thursday that “the attacks fundamentally reshape the global outlook for LNG”, with the disruption to global natural gas supplies now likely to last more than two months.
What is the reaction in the region?
Arab countries in March condemned attacks on infrastructure linked to South Pars. The UAE called it a “serious escalation” that poses a direct threat not only to global energy supplies but also to regional security. Qatar called the attacks on South Pars a “dangerous and irresponsible step.”
Iran retaliated quickly and forcefully in March. In addition to Ras Laffan in Qatar, two refineries in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh were also attacked. Saudi Arabia then stated that it “reserves the right to take military action” against Iran if it deems it necessary.
Later, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said it intercepted an Iranian missile targeting the port of Yanbu, which has become an alternative port for Saudi oil exports given the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped significantly
One of the main choke points for global maritime trade links the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Here’s how traffic has changed since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28.
Note: Data covers the period February 25 to March 7, 2026. The daily presence of vessels is calculated based on an hourly position per vessel.
Fonte: Global Fishing Watch
Graphic: Lou Robinson, CNN
What did Trump say?
Trump threatened to “completely blow up” South Pars if Iran continues attacks on Qatari energy facilities. Trump claimed the US “knew nothing” about the March Israeli attack on South Pars. However, an Israeli official told CNN that the attack was carried out in coordination with the US.
The attacks could spell trouble for Trump, who is already struggling to contain the effect his war on Iran is having on the wallets of ordinary Americans.
Mohit Kumar, an economist at investment bank Jefferies, said on Thursday that the US has been trying to avoid targeting energy infrastructure in an effort to “keep oil prices in check.”
“But Israel’s attack on Iran’s gas field showed that as the war continues, any red lines tend to become blurred,” he added in his morning note.
