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President Trump Says US “Knew Nothing” of Israel Strike on Iran Gas Field, Warns Against Further Escalation

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel carried out a strike on a major Iranian energy facility, stating the United States “knew nothing about this particular attack” and warning that no additional strikes would occur unless further escalation is triggered, as reported [1] by The Gateway Pundit.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that Israel targeted the South Pars Gas Field in Iran, describing it as a “major facility.” The South Pars field is a large natural gas site shared between Iran and Qatar.

BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY – 19 NOVEMBER 2016: President-elect Donald Trump & Vice President-elect Mike Pence met with potential cabinet members at Trump International. Marine General James Mattis

The strike prompted a swift response from Iran, which launched retaliatory attacks on Qatar’s liquefied natural gas facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City.

Qatari officials reported that the attack caused “extensive damage” and described it as a “dangerous escalation, flagrant violation of state sovereignty, and a direct threat to its national security and regional stability.”

Reports indicated that the South Pars facility is one of the most significant energy sites affected since the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran began nearly three weeks ago.

Iran’s oil ministry said airstrikes damaged several facilities connected to the gas field. Iranian state media also reported strikes on oil and petrochemical infrastructure in Asaluyeh, a major hub for Iran’s energy sector.

Energy markets reacted immediately. Oil prices climbed above $110, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, rising more than 7% to $111.23 by 4:52 p.m. ET, according to CNBC.

The escalation comes amid warnings from Iranian officials.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously stated that the Strait would remain open to all except “those who are attacking us and their allies,” and warned of potential attacks on American energy infrastructure in the Middle East if Iran’s facilities are targeted.

Trump addressed the sequence of events in his statement, noting that Iran responded to the strike without full knowledge of the circumstances.

“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.”

He added, “Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.”

Trump also issued a warning regarding future developments.

“NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar – In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.”

He further stated, “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long-term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”

The statement follows earlier remarks from administration officials indicating that Israel has, at times, pursued “different objectives” in its recent military actions.

The situation remains fluid as tensions continue across the region and global markets respond to developments involving energy infrastructure.