Trump rages at Israeli attack on Iranian gas field as he demands no more strikes on energy sites
UK military planners have been dispatched to US Central Command in Florida to help plot a route to unblocking the key shipping lane
Donald Trump hit out at Israel after it was seen to strike the world's largest gas field overnight, with the strike on Iran forcing him to demand an end to strikes on energy facilities.
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The US President took to his Truth Social platform to slam Israeli strikes on South Pars on Thursday, writing: "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."
He went on to claim he had no prior knowledge of the strikes and defended Qatar, branding Iran's actions "unjustifiable".
"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."
Referring to reprisal attacks from Iran on the Qatari LNG facility, Trump 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."
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In a starling demand of Israel, Trump said: "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.
"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."
Iran's retaliatory attacks saw oil prices surge to $110-per-barrel on Wednesday.
Experts are helping to develop a strategy to help tankers navigate through the chokepoint, which is feared to contain mines.
In the wake of the attack, the regime in Tehran has warned sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to evacuate because they have become "direct and legitimate targets".
British defence minister Luke Pollard said on Wednesday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was “absolutely vital for global trade, for our energy security, for the UK and for our partners in the region”.
He said: “The UK is convening our allies, both the United States, our European friends and partners in the region for those serious discussions about how the strait could be reopened. This is difficult and complicated work.
“There won’t be a quick or easy solution, but the UK is uniquely placed to be able to bring together those allies to look at what is the solution.” He said there would not just be a military solution but a “full package of measures” would be required, including insurance solutions."