Iran’s military declared Gulf energy installations as legitimate military targets on Wednesday after Israeli forces struck the South Pars gasfield — the world’s largest natural gas reserve. The Revolutionary Guards named specific facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar and ordered immediate evacuation. Oil prices surged toward $110 a barrel as the scale of Iran’s intended response became clear.
South Pars, shared between Iran and Qatar, lies at the heart of Iran’s gas export economy. The Israeli strike — reportedly conducted with US consent — was the first direct attack on Iranian fossil fuel production since the conflict began. Washington and Tel Aviv had deliberately avoided this move, but the decision to proceed marked a fundamental strategic shift that immediately triggered Iran’s most specific and threatening military declaration of the war.
Iran’s state broadcaster identified Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery and Jubail complex, the UAE’s al-Hosn gasfield, and Qatar’s Mesaieed and Ras Laffan facilities as targets. Workers and residents were told to leave immediately. Asaluyeh governor Eskandar Pasalar condemned the US-Israeli attack as “political suicide” and declared the conflict had entered a total economic war phase with global consequences.
Brent crude climbed to $108.60 per barrel — a nearly 5% gain — while European gas prices jumped more than 7.5% to over €55.50 per megawatt hour. Gulf oil exports had already been reduced by 60% from pre-war levels due to sustained infrastructure attacks and Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade. Iran had continued to export its own crude through the strait unimpeded while blocking Gulf neighbors’ shipments. The threat of Iranian strikes on Gulf energy installations raised the prospect of a complete supply collapse.
Qatar’s government spokesperson Majid al-Ansari warned that attacking energy infrastructure constituted a grave threat to global energy security and regional welfare. The declaration of Gulf energy installations as legitimate military targets was a historic escalation — one that placed some of the world’s most critical energy assets in direct and immediate jeopardy. The coming hours would reveal whether Iran’s declaration was preparation for action or a final warning before a diplomatic resolution.