Trump took to his Truth Social platform to clarify that while the U.S. “knew nothing” of the initial Israeli strike, it would not hesitate to use “unprecedented power” to defend neutral energy hubs like Qatar. He stated that the destruction of the South Pars field would be at a scale “that Iran has never seen or witnessed before,” effectively threatening to cripple the Iranian economy.
Global energy markets reacted instantly to the news, with oil prices surging by over 3% within hours. International observers are expressing concern that a direct hit on South Pars, which Iran shares with Qatar, could lead to a catastrophic regional war. Former U.S. counterterrorism officials have already voiced concerns that the administration is bypassing traditional diplomatic channels in favor of high-stakes military brinkmanship.