Trump Says US Had No Prior Knowledge of Israeli Strike on Iran's South Pars Gas Field

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States had no prior knowledge of Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field and insisted Qatar played no role in the attack.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said only a relatively small part of the major gas field was hit. He criticized Iran for responding by targeting part of Qatar's liquefied natural gas infrastructure, despite Qatar's lack of involvement in the Israeli operation. Trump warned that no further Israeli attacks would target South Pars unless Iran strikes Qatar again. He added that the U.S. would respond massively to any further Iranian attacks on Qatari gas facilities, with or without Israel's involvement.

Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field on March 18, 2026, one of the region's most sensitive energy sites shared with Qatar and critical to both countries' energy sectors, according to Reuters. The attack intensified tensions around Gulf energy infrastructure.

Iran warned energy facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates following the strike. Qatar reported that its Ras Laffan industrial zone was hit and suffered extensive damage. Qatar condemned the strike on its territory and expelled two Iranian diplomats, signaling further deterioration in regional ties.

Trump's remarks highlight the rapid escalation from the South Pars attack into a broader confrontation involving Iran, Israel, Qatar and the United States, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy markets and shipping routes.