For Iranians, Bombing of Gas Field Worsens Already Dire Energy Crisis
The South Pars gas field, hit by airstrikes on Wednesday, is central to the energy supply of Iran, which was already suffering blackouts before the war.
The South Pars gas field, hit by airstrikes on Wednesday, is central to the energy supply of Iran, which was already suffering blackouts before the war.
The field is part of a vast gas reservoir shared by Iran and Qatar. The strike appeared to be one of the most significant attacks on an energy site since the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran began.
The strikes appeared to be some of the most significant attacks on energy sites since the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran began almost three weeks ago.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 11 countries in the region have asked for Kyiv’s assistance. Russia has launched such drones against Ukraine for years.
A U.S. attack or a move to seize control of Iran’s main oil export hub could cripple the country’s ability to profit from its natural resources. But it would also risk sending energy prices even higher.
President Trump said he might postpone a trip to China to focus on the war. More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon this month, according to the country’s health ministry.
As the conflict with Iran expands and intensifies, President Trump’s options — to fight on, or to move toward declaring victory and pulling back — both carry deeply problematic consequences.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for oil shipments, remained unsafe for tankers. Iran has been firing projectiles and laying mines.
To defend allies from Iran, the continent’s powers have mounted a rare show of force. But those efforts have diverted limited resources from other hot spots.
The Persian Gulf island, targeted by U.S. strikes, is home to Iran’s main oil export terminal. Any disruption could jolt global energy markets.