Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel acted unilaterally in its recent military strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, clarifying that the United States was not involved. “Israel acted alone against the Asaluyeh gas complex,” Netanyahu said in a televised press conference, adding, “President Trump asked us to refrain from future attacks, and we are adhering to that principle.”
According to Al Jazeera, Netanyahu indicated Israel would postpone further attacks on Iran’s massive natural gas fields at the request of President Trump. The Israeli leader also asserted that any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz would be unsuccessful.
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“The death fanatic group in Iran is trying to extort the world by closing a major international shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz. That will not succeed,” Netanyahu stated.
Netanyahu dedicated a significant portion of the press conference to denying that his government was pushing the United States into a war with Iran.
“The false news that we are dragging the United States into this war is not only false news, it is ridiculous,” he said.
He added that Trump had told him over a year ago to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“The world owes a very, very great debt to President Trump for leading the effort to protect our future,” Netanyahu continued.
The Israeli strike reportedly hit facilities at Iran’s South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, causing fires. South Pars is the world’s largest known natural gas reserve.
“Moments ago, part of a gas facility located in the South Pars Special Energy Economic Zone in Asaluyeh was hit by a projectile fired by the American-Zionist enemy,” state television reported, citing Ehsan Jahanian, the deputy governor of the southern Bushehr province, where the facilities are located, according to the Wall Street Journal, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The South Pars/North Dome gas field is the largest known gas reserve in the world, supplying approximately 70% of Iran’s domestic natural gas.
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The exchange between Israel and Iran, coupled with the U.S. Involvement in de-escalation efforts, highlights the precarious security situation in the Middle East and the potential for wider regional conflict. The developments are already impacting global energy markets, with oil prices rising sharply on Thursday, reaching $115 a barrel, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, an F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a U.S. Air base in the Middle East after being struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, sources told CNN. President Trump has also confirmed he is seeking $200 billion in new Pentagon funding, calling it a “small price to pay” to equip the military, and threatened to “massively blow up” the world’s largest gas field, South Pars in Iran, if attacks on Qatar continue.
Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel acted alone comes after initial speculation regarding U.S. Involvement in the strike on the Asaluyeh gas compound, as reported by YouTube.
