Donald Trump has threatened to \u201cmassively blow up\u201d the entire South Pars gas field if Iran carries out any more retaliatory attacks on Qatar\u2019s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The US president also said on his Truth Social platform <\/a>that the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d about Israel\u2019s Wednesday attack on the South Pars field \u2013 which Iran shares with Qatar \u2013 and neither did Qatar. Trump declared \u201cno more attacks will be made by Israel\u201d on the field \u2013 unless Iran attacks Qatar\u2019s LNG, adding: \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n While Trump said the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d ahead of the South Pars attack, US media have reported that the White House was aware of it. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, said<\/a> Trump approved of it in a bid to pressure Tehran into unblocking the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Israel struck the South Pars field <\/a>hours after Israeli forces killed the regime\u2019s intelligence minister and launched some of the most intense airstrikes in Beirut for decades. Iran later launched attacks on its Gulf neighbours\u2019 energy facilities: Qatar\u2019s massive Ras Laffan LNG facility, and the Habshan gas facility and Bab field in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE said the Habshan and Bab field operations were shut down after interceptions over the sites, while Qatari officials said all fires at the Ras Laffan hub had been contained<\/a>.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran, the foreign minister said. Speaking after a meeting in Riyadh of foreign ministers from the region, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday that Iran \u201ctries to pressure its neighbours\u201d with attacks.<\/p>\n Vessels were reported to be hit by unknown projectiles overnight in the Persian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said. All crew were reported to be \u201csafe and well\u201d after the incident east of Ras Laffan, Qatar, it said, while earlier it received a report of another vessel being hit east of the UAE port of Khawr Fakkan by a projectile that caused a fire onboard.<\/p>\n Iran has executed three people convicted of killing police officers and carrying out operations helping the US and Israel during unrest earlier this year, the Iranian judiciary said.<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate moratorium on striking civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply facilities, saying that civilian populations and their needs had to be \u201cprotected from military escalation\u201d. He made the call in a social media post after speaking with Donald Trump<\/a> and the emir of Qatar.<\/p>\n Cathay Pacific suspended flights to and from Dubai over the Middle East war.<\/p>\n Iran seeks compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of enabling US attacks against Iranian territory, Iran\u2019s ambassador to the UN has told the UN secretary general in a letter, according to a Nournews report.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.12 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Drone crashed at Saudi oil refinery, defence ministry says<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry said a drone crashed at oil giant Saudi Aramco\u2019s Samref refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, according to state media.<\/p>\n Maj Gen Turki Al-Malki, a defence ministry spokesperson, said a ballistic missile launched toward Yanbu port was intercepted and destroyed, Saudi Press Agency reported.<\/p>\n The ministry said \u201cdamage assessment\u201d was under way, without elaborating.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>European gas prices jump 35% as attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf intensify<\/p>\n European natural gas prices rose as much as 35% today after attacks to energy infrastructure in the Gulf intensified.<\/p>\n European gas prices have increased by more than 60% since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February, Reuters news agency reported.<\/p>\n The price of Brent crude \u2013 the global benchmark \u2013 also increased to $112 a barrel today. It settled yesterday at $107.38 a barrel, according to reports, bringing the cost of crude oil up more than 48% since the war began. It has not dropped below the $100 threshold since 13 March.<\/p>\n Uncertainty continues to grow over how the escalating war in the Middle East would affect energy supplies, as attacks were reported in Qatar and Kuwait this morning, a day after Iran\u2019s largest natural gas field was hit.<\/a><\/p>\n Qatar said Iranian missiles caused \u201cextensive damage\u201d to its main gas facility at Ras Laffan, while Kuwaiti state media reported attacks at two of the country\u2019s oil refineries.<\/p>\n For the latest economic and financial news, you can follow our business live blog here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kuwaiti state media has reported a drone attack on a second oil refinery in the country.<\/p>\n The attack at Mina Abdullah refinery, operated by Kuwait National Petroleum Company, was targeted this morning by a drone resulting in a fire at the site, the Kuwait News Agency reported.<\/p>\n \u201cEmergency and rapid response teams were immediately deployed to contain and control the fire in accordance with the highest approved safety standards,\u201d the agency said in a post on X.<\/p>\n It did not say where the attack was launched from, but came moments after a report of a drone attack at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery about 7 miles away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Oil refinery targeted in Kuwait – state media<\/p>\n An oil refinery in Kuwait was targeted in a drone strike this morning, sparking a \u201climited\u201d fire , according to state media.<\/p>\n The fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was contained and there were no reports of injuries, the Kuwait News Agency reported, citing the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The report did not say where the strike was launched from.<\/p>\n The oil refinery is located about 30 miles south of Kuwait City. It is one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East, with a petroleum production capacity of 730,000 barrels per day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.38 EDT<\/p>\n Interim summary<\/p>\n In case you\u2019re just just joining us, here\u2019s a recap of the latest developments in the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a>. It\u2019s 10.30am in Tehran, 9am in Tel Aviv and Beirut and 3am in Washington DC.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has threatened to \u201cmassively blow up\u201d the entire South Pars gas field if Iran carries out any more retaliatory attacks on Qatar\u2019s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The US president also said on his Truth Social platform <\/a>that the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d about Israel\u2019s Wednesday attack on the South Pars field \u2013 which Iran shares with Qatar \u2013 and neither did Qatar. Trump declared \u201cno more attacks will be made by Israel\u201d on the field \u2013 unless Iran attacks Qatar\u2019s LNG, adding: \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n While Trump said the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d ahead of the South Pars attack, US media have reported that the White House was aware of it. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, said<\/a> Trump approved of it in a bid to pressure Tehran into unblocking the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Israel struck the South Pars field <\/a>hours after Israeli forces killed the regime\u2019s intelligence minister and launched some of the most intense airstrikes in Beirut for decades. Iran later launched attacks on its Gulf neighbours\u2019 energy facilities: Qatar\u2019s massive Ras Laffan LNG facility, and the Habshan gas facility and Bab field in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE said the Habshan and Bab field operations were shut down after interceptions over the sites, while Qatari officials said all fires at the Ras Laffan hub had been contained<\/a>.<\/p>\n A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut\u2019s Bashoura neighbourhood on Wednesday. Photograph: Fadel Itani\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran, the foreign minister said. Speaking after a meeting in Riyadh of foreign ministers from the region, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday that Iran \u201ctries to pressure its neighbours\u201d with attacks.<\/p>\n Vessels were reported to be hit by unknown projectiles overnight in the Persian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said. All crew were reported to be \u201csafe and well\u201d after the incident east of Ras Laffan, Qatar, it said, while earlier it received a report of another vessel being hit east of the UAE port of Khawr Fakkan by a projectile that caused a fire onboard.<\/p>\n Iran has executed three people convicted of killing police officers and carrying out operations helping the US and Israel during unrest earlier this year, the Iranian judiciary said.<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate moratorium on striking civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply facilities, saying that civilian populations and their needs had to be \u201cprotected from military escalation\u201d. He made the call in a social media post after speaking with Donald Trump<\/a> and the emir of Qatar.<\/p>\n Cathay Pacific suspended flights to and from Dubai over the Middle East war.<\/p>\n Iran seeks compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of enabling US attacks against Iranian territory, Iran\u2019s ambassador to the UN has told the UN secretary general in a letter, according to a Nournews report.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.12 EDT<\/p>\n Oil giant Saudi Aramco\u2019s Samref refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu was targeted in an aerial attack on Thursday, an industry source has told Reuters, adding there was minimal impact.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guards on Thursday issued an evacuation warning to several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, including Samref, which is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Exxon Mobil.<\/p>\n Yanbu is currently the only export outlet for any crude oil out of Gulf Arab countries as Iran has effectively shut the vital strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply normally flows.<\/p>\n Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the report said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran seeks compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of enabling US attacks against Iranian territory, Iran\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations has told the UN secretary general in a letter, according to a Nournews report published on Thursday.<\/p>\n In the letter, cited by Reuters, Amir Saeid Iravani said the UAE\u2019s decision to allow its territory to be used for the strikes constituted \u201can internationally wrongful act that entailed state responsibility\u201d.<\/p>\n Tehran said the UAE had an international responsibility to provide reparation, including compensation for all material and moral damages incurred.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Donald Trump has said the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d of Israel\u2019s attack on the huge South Pars gasfield<\/a> in Iran on Wednesday, but US media reported earlier that the White House was aware of the attack.<\/p>\n The Wall Street Journal reported<\/a>, citing unnamed US officials, that the US president approved of it in a bid to pressure Tehran into unblocking the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n A few hours ago Trump threatened to \u201cmassively blow up\u201d the South Pars<\/a> gasfield \u2013 the world\u2019s largest – after the Israel hit on the site prompted Tehran to step up attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East.<\/p>\n Smoke and fire rise near the South Pars gas field in Iran\u2019s Bushehr province amid the war with the US and Israel. Photograph: Social Media\/Reuters<\/p>\n There\u2019s more on this and other key news lines from the war in our latest full report from my colleague Callum Jones<\/a> here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.35 EDT<\/p>\n Australia seeks to be ‘over-prepared’ amid fuel crunch<\/p>\n Turning to Australia now, a petrol tsar will manage \u201cunprecedented\u201d supply issues caused by the Middle East conflict as the finishing touches are put on measures to address dire shortages in many regional areas.<\/p>\n Prime minister Anthony Albanese convened a snap virtual meeting of the national cabinet on Thursday to discuss major price shocks and shortages driven by the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n The former Australian Energy Regulator CEO Anthea Harris was announced as the co-ordinator of a fuel-supply taskforce and will oversee work involving the nation\u2019s different tiers of government on fuel-security and supply-chain issues, reports Australian Associated Press.<\/p>\n State leaders who demanded faster action and a long-term plan from the federal government welcomed the move.<\/p>\n Albanese said there was a \u201cgood feeling of common purpose\u201d during their meeting, telling reporters:<\/p>\n double quotation markMy government will be announcing more measures to prepare the nation for supply chain challenges over coming days and weeks.<\/p>\n Our fuel supply is currently secure. However, I want us to be over-prepared.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Australia\u2019s competition watchdog is investigating major fuel suppliers including Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva Energy for alleged anti-competitive conduct amid growing shortages sparked by the Iran war. The full report from Tom McIlroy<\/a> is here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre has reported another vessel being hit by an unknown projectile, this time in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n All crew were reported to be \u201csafe and well\u201d after the incident east of Ras Laffan, Qatar, the agency said.<\/p>\n It received the report at 01.30 GMT on Thursday and authorities were continuing to investigate.<\/p>\n UKMTO said earlier that another vessel was hit east of the UAE port of Khawr Fakkan in the Gulf of Oman by an unknown projectile that caused a fire onboard. That report came at 23.00 GMT on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Vessels have been reported hit in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman overnight. Photograph: Andre M Chang\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Iran launched overnight strikes on Qatar\u2019s huge liquefied natural gas facility at Ras Laffan after Israel<\/a> struck the giant South Pars gasfield on Wednesday in a major escalation of the war.<\/p>\n Qatari officials are saying now that all fires at the Ras Laffan hub have been contained<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.41 EDT<\/p>\n Iran has executed three people convicted of killing police officers and carrying out operations helping the US and Israel<\/a> during unrest earlier this year, the judiciary said.<\/p>\n \u201cThree individuals convicted in the Dey [January] unrest, on charges of murder and operational actions in favour of the Zionist regime and the United States, were hanged this morning,\u201d the judiciary\u2019s Mizan Online website said on Thursday, cited by the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n It added that those executed were involved in the killing of two law-enforcement personnel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n Qatar officials are reporting that \u201call fires\u201d at its major gas hub have been contained after the Iranian attack.<\/p>\n \u201cCivil Defence has fully brought all fires under control in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area without any reported injuries. Cooling and sites-securing operations are still ongoing,\u201d the ministry said in a post on X.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll give you more news on this as it comes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.27 EDT<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s central bank has said it expects inflation to increase because of the \u201crecent rise in crude oil prices\u201d caused by the Middle East war.<\/p>\n The Bank of Japan statement on Thursday \u2013 in which it also said it had left its key interest rate unchanged at 0.75% \u2013 came as the government began an emergency subsidy programme to drive down the cost of gasoline.<\/p>\n The world\u2019s fourth-largest economy depends on the Middle East for 95% of its oil imports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.30 EDT<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia reserves \u2018right to take military actions\u2019 over Iran attacks<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran<\/a>, the foreign minister said.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters after a meeting in Riyadh of foreign ministers from the region, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday that Iran \u201ctries to pressure its neighbours\u201d with attacks.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and on the contrary, this pressure will backfire … and certainly, as we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, chairs a meeting of foreign ministers from a group of Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh. Photograph: Baraa Anwer\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.30 EDT<\/p>\n Ship attacked near strait of Hormuz \u2013 UK agency<\/p>\n In case you missed this news earlier, an attack set a ship ablaze early on Thursday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a vessel was \u201chit by an unknown projectile, which has resulted in a fire onboard\u201d.<\/p>\n The agency said the vessel was just off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, near the mouth of the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n More than 20 vessels have been attacked during the Iran<\/a> war so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.50 EDT<\/p>\n In other Asia business news today, Japan\u2019s Nikkei was down 2.5%, while South Korean equities fell 1.5%.<\/p>\n MSCI\u2019s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell more than 1.5%.<\/p>\n \u201cThis latest escalation feels like a turning point for markets because the conflict is no longer just about military headlines or strait of Hormuz closure,\u201d Charu Chanana, the chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore, told Reuters.<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cIt is now hitting the plumbing of the global energy system. What is unsettling markets now is the growing stagflation risk … It means this is no longer just a geopolitical story but a macro one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.24 EDT<\/p>\n Cathay Pacific suspends Dubai flights until end of April<\/p>\n Cathay Pacific has suspended flights to and from Dubai over the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cIn view of the developing situation in the Middle East, all Cathay Pacific flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled up to and including 30 April 2026,\u201d the company said in a statement.<\/p>\n The Hong Kong aviation giant added that \u201cfurther changes to our flight schedule may be needed in the coming days\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.24 EDT<\/p>\n Opening summary<\/p>\n Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a> and its effects on the region, the world and the global economy.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has threatened to \u201cmassively blow up\u201d the entire South Pars gas field if Iran carries out any more retaliatory attacks on Qatar\u2019s LNG gas facilities.<\/p>\n The US president also said in a post on his Truth Social platform <\/a>that the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d about Israel\u2019s Wednesday attack at the South Pars field, which Iran shares with Qatar<\/a>, and neither did Doha. Trump said that \u201cno more attacks will be made by Israel\u201d on the field \u2013 unless Iran \u201cdecides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump added: \u201cIn which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel<\/a>, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel struck the giant South Pars gasfield <\/a>on Wednesday, marking a major escalation<\/a> of the war, hours after Israeli forces killed the regime\u2019s intelligence minister and launched some of the most intense airstrikes in Beirut for decades.<\/p>\n Iran condemned the South Pars strike, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of \u201cuncontrollable consequences\u201d that \u201ccould engulf the entire world\u201d. Iran<\/a> later launched strikes on its Gulf neighbours\u2019 energy facilities: Qatar\u2019s massive Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, and the Habshan gas facility and Bab field in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE said the Habshan and Bab field operations were shut down after interceptions over the sites.<\/p>\n The UAE government called Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes a \u201cdangerous escalation\u201d in the war<\/a>. Qatar ordered Iranian embassy officials to leave the country within 24 hours.<\/p>\n Other developments include:<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773911469_457_2002.jpg\")
A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut\u2019s Bashoura neighbourhood on Wednesday. Photograph: Fadel Itani\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n