Israel on Wednesday attacked South Pars, the world’s largest natural gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar across the Gulf. It is reportedly the first attack on Iranian energy infrastructure in the Gulf since the US-Israeli war began on February 28.
Tehran to warn its neighbours in the Gulf region.
The Tel Aviv airstrike has prompted Tehran to warn its neighbours in the Gulf region to evacuate their respective energy installations. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim news agency, the airstrike hit Iran’s petrochemical complex at the South Pars gas field.
Reuters reported that Iran and Qatar share South Pars, the world’s largest natural gas reserve. According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the Israeli strike hit gas tanks and parts of a refinery south of Pars. Gas field workers were evacuated and emergency crews were deployed to extinguish the fire, reports said.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israeli attacks on the world’s largest natural gas field as the Islamic nation issued evacuation orders for five energy facilities in the Gulf.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued evacuation orders for five energy facilities in the Gulf region:
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- Al-Hosn gas field in the United Arab Emirates
- Ras Laffan Refinery in Qatar
- Al-Jubail Petrochemical Complex in Saudi Arabia
- Masaed Holding Company in Saudi Arabia
- Samref Refinery in Saudi Arabia
Oil prices rose after reports that Israel had attacked the South Pars gas field, as the Brent crude oil benchmark rose to $108.60 a barrel, up 5% from Tuesday’s prices.
Qatar has reacted strongly and blamed Israel for the bombing of the South Pars gas field. Doha’s Foreign Ministry said attacking the world’s largest natural gas field was “dangerous and irresponsible”.
“We reiterate, as we have repeatedly stressed, the need to avoid targeting critical facilities,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansari said in a statement. BBC Informed.
