South Pars gas field struck — world's largest natural gas reservoir hit as energy war escalates
Strike on the world's biggest gas field marks most consequential energy infrastructure attack of the war
The South Pars natural gas field in the Persian Gulf — the world's largest gas reservoir — was struck on Day 19, marking the most economically consequential energy infrastructure attack of the war. Qatar, which shares the field with Iran, blamed Israel. Iran's South Pars side supplies roughly 75% of its domestic gas output and the bulk of its LNG exports. The strike follows escalating mutual energy targeting: Iran has been hitting Gulf Arab oil and gas facilities throughout the war, while Israel and the US have targeted Iranian military and energy infrastructure. With oil already above 108 dollars per barrel, up 40% since the war began, disruption to South Pars production threatens further severe global energy price shocks.
Key facts
- •South Pars / North Dome is the world's largest natural gas field, straddling the Iran-Qatar maritime boundary
- •Iran's South Pars side supplies ~75% of Iran's domestic gas output and bulk of LNG exports
- •Qatar shares the field as North Dome — the foundation of Qatar's enormous LNG industry
- •Qatar publicly blamed Israel for the strike; attribution unconfirmed at time of reporting
- •Oil trading above $108/barrel — up 40% since war start; South Pars disruption accelerates global price shock
- •Most economically consequential energy infrastructure target struck in the war to date
Timeline
Iran strikes UAE Shah natural gas field — first upstream energy infrastructure hit
South Pars struck — Qatar blames Israel; world's largest gas field hit