Tehran/Bushehr, March 18, 2026 — Iran has issued a stark warning of "decisive" and "strong" retaliation following an Israeli airstrike on facilities at the South Pars natural gas field, the world's largest known natural gas reserve, shared with Qatar as the North Field. Iranian state media reported that the attack, attributed to US-Israeli coordination, targeted gas treatment and processing facilities in the Asaluyeh Special Economic Energy Zone in southern Bushehr province, causing fires and temporarily halting operations in several phases (including phases 3, 4, 5, and 6).
The strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, now in its third week, as it represents the first reported direct hit on the country's upstream natural gas infrastructure. South Pars supplies approximately 70% of Iran's domestic natural gas needs and supports exports to neighbors like Iraq and Turkey. Iranian officials described the assault as an attack by the "American-Zionist enemy," with state television quoting Bushehr deputy governor Ehsan Jahanian confirming that projectiles struck parts of the gas facilities.
Iran's armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), swiftly condemned the incident and declared that energy infrastructure in the region has now become "legitimate targets." In statements carried by state media and the Tasnim news agency, military officials warned of imminent "powerful counterattacks" not only against the aggressors but also against oil and gas assets in Gulf Arab states, specifically naming facilities in Saudi Arabia (such as the Samref refinery in Yanbu and Sadara petrochemical complex in Jubail), Qatar (including the Ras Laffan refinery and Qatar Chemical in Doha), and the United Arab Emirates.
"We consider targeting the fuel, energy, and gas infrastructures of the countries of origin legitimate and will retaliate strongly at the earliest opportunity," the Iranian military statement read, adding that residents near these sites should avoid them due to heightened risks.
The attack comes amid a broader wave of tit-for-tat strikes. Israel recently claimed responsibility for assassinations of high-ranking Iranian officials, including security chief Ali Larijani and the head of the Basij paramilitary unit, Gholamreza Soleimani, as well as Iran's intelligence minister. Iran has responded with missile barrages on Israel and attacks on energy sites in Gulf states, including strikes that have disrupted oil and gas operations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain.
Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the strike on South Pars facilities, calling it a "dangerous and irresponsible step" that threatens regional stability and global energy security, given the field's shared nature.
Global energy markets reacted sharply to the news, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel and European natural gas prices rising amid fears of further disruptions in the Persian Gulf, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil transits via the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has previously made the strait nearly impassable through attacks on shipping.
No immediate confirmation of casualties or the full extent of damage at South Pars was available, though Iranian authorities stated the situation was "under control" and fires were being addressed. Emergency evacuations of workers were reported in affected areas.
The strike underscores the war's growing focus on economic lifelines, with both sides increasingly targeting energy infrastructure in a conflict that shows no signs of de-escalation. Iranian leaders have vowed "crushing" revenge, while regional and international observers warn of the risk of a wider conflagration involving Gulf energy producers.
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