Trump threatens to ‘massively blow up’ Iran gas field as oil prices spike after Tehran blitzes Gulf energy sites: Live updates
By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER and JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR
Updated:
Donald Trump has threatened to ‘massively blow up’ a major Iranian gas field at the centre of a major escalation in the US-Israel war with Iran.
In an explosive Truth Social post, Trump claimed the US had no knowledge of an attack on the South Pars Field by Israel and warned the US will take unprecedented action if Tehran continues to strike energy sites across the Gulf in retaliation.
‘I do not want to authorise this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran,’ he said in a post on Truth Social, adding he ‘will not hesitate’ to strike back.
His remarks came after missiles caused ‘extensive damage’ in Qatar hours after Iran threatened to wage a ‘full scale economic war’ by attacking energy facilities across the Middle East.
Video showed huge explosions in Ras Laffan – the world’s biggest natural gas plant – as well as Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.
Abu Dhabi authorities suspended operations at two of its sites, the Habshan gas facility and at the Bab oil field, after being hit with fallen debris from successful missile interceptions.
The price of oil has spiked again this morning by 4% to $112 a barrel when trading opened in Asia.
Trump threatens to ‘massively blow up’ Iran gas field
Donald Trump said he ‘knew nothing’ of Israel’s attack on the world’s largest natural gas field, South Pars in Iran.
However, he threatened to blow up the whole facility with ‘an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before’ if Iran continues to attack Qatar.
‘I do not want to authorise this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran,’ he said in a post on Truth Social, adding he ‘will not hesitate’ to strike back.
The Pentagon has requested $200billion for the war in Iran as President Trump considers deploying thousands of more troops to the region.
The development signaled a potential new phase in the conflict as the US works to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing bombings.
The funding request comes after a study concluded that the US has spent around $3.7 billion, or $891.4 million a day, on wartime efforts in the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury, rising to $11 billion in the first week alone.
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Oil jumps 4 per cent as strikes continue
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil shot up by 4 per cent to $112 overnight as strikes across the Middle East continued.
The jump comes after Iran’s South Pars gas facility – one of the world’s largest natural gas fields – was hit by an Israeli missile.
Iran responded by targeting a major liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar.
This caused ‘extensive damage’, according to Qatari authorities and raised concerns over the global energy supply.
Iran last night threatened to cripple the global energy market in a ‘full-scale economic war’ by ramping up missile attacks on oil and gas plants.
In a major escalation of the Middle East crisis, facilities in neighbouring Gulf countries were evacuated as the regime threatened to pummel them with strikes in ‘the coming hours’.
It followed an Israeli air strike on the world’s largest natural gas field, South Pars in Iran.
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Trump threatens to ‘massively blow up’ Iran gas field as oil prices spike after Tehran blitzes Gulf energy sites: Live updates
