Trump Tells Israel Not To Repeat Strikes On Iranian Energy As Crisis Deepens

DOHA/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 20 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump tells Israel not to repeat attacks IranianTit-for-tat strikes on energy utilities have caused prices to soar, sharply escalating the US-Israeli conflict, while Asian natural gas infrastructure Fight Iranian.

TConflict killed thousands of peopleNuclear attacks have spread to neighboring countries and hit the global economy since the US and Israel launched an attack on February 28 after talks on Tehran’s nuclear program failed to reach an agreement.

Trump’s comment came as follows energy prices skyrocketed after thursday Iranian Israel’s attack on a major gas field was responded to by striking Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, which processes about one-fifth of the world’s natural gas. liquefied natural gasIt causes damage that will take years to repair.

Saudi Arabia’s main port on the Red Sea has been able to divert some exports to avoid exports. IranianClosing the exit point of the Gulf, Strait of Hormuzwas also attacked.

Strikes attracted attention Iraniancontinued ability to provide a definitive result heavy price The limits of air defense in protecting the Gulf’s most valuable and valuable assets for the US-Israeli operation strategic energy assets

Embers, politically vulnerable Reacting to rising fuel prices among his core voters before the midterm elections in November, Trump lashed out at his allies who responded cautiously to his demands to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

But he said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to repeat the attack on energy infrastructure.

“I told him, ‘Don’t do this,’ and he won’t do it,” he told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.

A US official and three other people familiar with the planning told Reuters: Embers I was thinking I’m sending thousands more US soldiers are going to the Middle East.

But on Thursday, Trump said: no plan deploying ground forces. “I will not send soldiers anywhere,” he said.

Netanyahu said later Thursday that Israel acted alone in the bombing. IranianHe visited the South Pars gas field and confirmed that Trump had asked Israel to stop such attacks.

Iranian After 20 days of US-Israeli airstrikes, it no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or build ballistic missiles, but a revolution in the country will not come from the air and will require a “ground component,” he said, without elaborating.

While the Israeli leader was speaking, Iranian According to the Israeli military, it launched a new wave of missiles towards its country. IranianIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Israeli military said late Thursday that its Air Force had carried out more than 130 strikes on targets in the western and central regions. Iranian Many products, including ballistic missile launchers, drones and air defense systems, were exhibited in the past day.

Separately, officials in the United Arab Emirates said they had dismantled a “terrorist network” financed and operated by Lebanese Hezbollah. Iranian.

With no end to the conflict on the horizon and the danger of a global “oil shock” growing day by day, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan issued a statement. joint statement He stated, “We are ready to contribute to the necessary efforts to ensure safe passage through the Bosphorus.”

They also promised “further steps to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producing countries to increase production.”

There was little sign of any immediate move. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated that any contribution to the security of the Bosphorus will come only from Türkiye. after the hostilities ended.

resistance Claims by major U.S. allies to become involved in the war reflect skepticism about a conflict that European leaders say is unclear of targets they are not seeking and over which they have little control.

Israeli bombing IranianThe South Pars gas field, which Trump said the US did not know about, shows that there are gaps in the coordination of strategy and war aims among the main actors.

Adding to the confusion over the attack, three Israeli officials operation said It was carried out in consultation with the United States but was unlikely to be repeated.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the House intelligence committee: Israeli targets was different: “…the Israeli government, IranianIan leadership. The President stated that their aim was to destroy Iranianballistic missile launch capability, ballistic missile production capability and navy.”

IranianHe said his army was attacking Iranian‘s energy infrastructure had led to a “new phase in the war”; Attacked energy facilities It depends on the USA.

“If there is a strike (on Iranian‘s energy facilities) occur again, new attacks on your and your allies’ energy infrastructures will not stop until they are completely destroyed.” IranianIranian military spokesman Ibrahim Zulfakari said, according to state media.

CEO of QatarEnergy he told Reuters the IranianThe attacks had destroyed a sixth of Qatar’s $20 billion a year LNG export capacity, and repairs would take three to five years.

Israeli media reported: IranianThe attack hit oil facilities in Israel’s Haifa port, causing damage but no casualties.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Timour Azhari in Riyadh; Additional reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Costas Pitas; Editing by Diane Craft)