U.S. President Donald Trump warned on the 18th (local time) that if Iran attacks Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities again, the United States will carry out an unprecedented large-scale bombing of Iran.
Trump said on the social media (SNS) platform Truth Social that "if Iran does not recklessly decide to attack the very innocent Qatar, there will also be no further Israeli attacks on the very important and valuable South Pars gas field (in Iran)."
He added, "If Iran recklessly attacks Qatar, the United States will, regardless of whether Israel helps or agrees, massively blow up the entire South Pars gas field with a level of force that Iran has never witnessed."
Regarding Israel's earlier attack on South Pars, Trump claimed, "The United States knew nothing about this attack," adding, "Qatar likewise was not involved in any way and had no knowledge that such an event would occur. Iran unjustly attacked Qatar's LNG gas facilities."
He continued, "I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of its long-term impact on Iran's future," but emphasized again, "If Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are attacked again, we will act without hesitation."
Earlier the same day, Israel bombed South Pars, Iran's largest gas field, and the natural gas refining complex in Asaluyeh on Iran's southwestern coast that is directly connected to it. In response, Iran attacked key national gas facilities in Ras Laffan on Qatar's northern coast, which account for about 20% of global LNG supply.