After an important gas field was attacked, Iran vowed to fully strike US-related oil facilities; facilities in three Middle Eastern countries became targets.

After an important gas field was attacked, Iran vowed to fully strike US-related oil facilities; facilities in three Middle Eastern countries became targets.

The U.S. military action against Iran has entered its 19th day, and the risk of attacks on energy facilities in the Middle East has suddenly escalated. Iran announced it will fully strike U.S.-related oil facilities and has listed the energy facilities of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar as legitimate targets, prompting emergency evacuations at these sites. International oil prices soared in response.

During Wednesday’s early U.S. trading session, as U.S. stocks hit new daily highs, Brent crude approached the $110 mark, with intraday gains expanding to about 6.3%; U.S. WTI crude broke above $99.40, up about 3.3% during the day.

According to CCTV News, on Wednesday, March 18 local time, the commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Tansiri, warned that Iran now treats U.S.-related oil facilities the same as U.S. military bases and will strike them with full force. He urged workers at these facilities and nearby residents to evacuate and seek shelter. According to Xinhua, citing Iranian media, the spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central command stated the same day that Iran will severely retaliate against any attacks on its energy infrastructure.

This threat triggered a chain reaction. Reports indicate that Saudi Aramco has begun evacuating the Samref refinery and facilities in Jubail, while the UAE’s Al Hosn gas field and Qatar’s Mesaieed petrochemical complex—also named targets—have initiated evacuations as well. On Wednesday, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity announced that Iran’s gas supply to Iraq has been completely cut off, causing Iraq to lose more than 3.1 GW of installed power capacity.

Israel Attacks Iran's Largest Natural Gas Facility, Situation Escalates Rapidly

Commentators point out that the direct trigger of this round of tensions was Israel’s strike on Iran’s core energy assets.

According to CCTV News, on Wednesday, March 18 local time, the Israeli Defense Forces attacked facilities at the South Pars gas field in Iran’s southern Bushehr province. Israeli officials said the facility handles about 40% of Iran’s natural gas and stated the attack was carried out in coordination with the U.S. According to CCTV, afterward, parts of Bushehr’s Assaluyeh petrochemical facilities were attacked by U.S. and Israeli drones, with the South Pars gas refinery phases 3 to 6 also affected.

This was the first direct strike on Iran’s upstream oil and gas assets in this round of conflict. Official reports since the beginning of the month show several senior Iranian officials have died since the outbreak of hostilities, including Ismail Hatib, Iran's intelligence minister, who was confirmed killed on Wednesday.

Qatar issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s strike.

According to Xinhua, on Wednesday Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Ansari stated on social media that Israel’s attack on the South Pars gas field facilities was a “dangerous and irresponsible move” amid the region’s current military escalation.

Ansari emphasized that strikes on energy infrastructure threaten global energy security, regional communities, and the environment, calling on all parties to exercise restraint, abide by international law, and work to de-escalate the situation. Notably, the South Pars gas field and Qatar’s North Field belong to the same reservoir.

Iran Names Three Countries as Targets; Gulf Facilities Under Emergency Evacuation

According to CCTV, citing Iranian sources on Wednesday, March 18 local time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an urgent warning that oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are legitimate targets and will be struck within the coming hours, urging people in those regions to evacuate.

According to CCTV News, Iran warned that if Iranian energy facilities are attacked, all energy infrastructure supporting U.S. and Israeli interests in the region will be Iran’s top targets.

Iran’s semi-official news agency published a list of planned strike targets on Wednesday. The facilities Iran named include:

  • Qatar’s Ras Laffan refinery Phase 1 and 2, and the Mesaieed petrochemical complex;
  • Saudi’s Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex;
  • The UAE’s Al Hosn gas field.

The Iranian media cited statements that "these facilities have become direct and legitimate targets and will be struck within the next few hours."

Reports indicate Saudi Aramco has begun preventative evacuations at the Samref refinery and Jubail facilities, while the UAE’s Al Hosn gas field and Qatar’s Mesaieed petrochemical complex have started evacuating personnel as well.

Media note that the targets include several key natural gas assets. Even though most facilities have suspended operations due to the risk of attack, significant damage could still have a lasting impact on global energy supply and keep prices high long-term.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Iran has continued to expand the scope of its attacks on Gulf states—since the start of hostilities on March 12, attacks on Saudi Arabia have significantly increased. On Monday alone, nearly a hundred drones were launched at Saudi Arabia’s eastern provinces, where many key oil and gas facilities are concentrated. Saudi’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted the latest attack.

Gulf Oil Exports Plummet Over 60%, Global Energy Supply Under Pressure

The impact of the conflict on global energy flows is evident in shipping data.

According to CCTV, citing Belgian market services firm Kpler, in the week ending March 15, the eight main oil-producing Gulf countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE—exported an average of 9.71 million barrels of oil per day, down from February's daily average of 25.13 million barrels, a decline of about 61%.

Kpler data also show that, before the outbreak of hostilities, maritime oil exports from these eight countries accounted for 36% of global totals.

Iraq was particularly hard hit.

According to CCTV News, on Wednesday, March 18 local time, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity confirmed Iran’s gas supply to Iraq has been completely cut off.

According to reports, Ministry of Electricity spokesman Ahmed Moussa said Iran supplied about 19 million cubic meters of gas per day before the interruption, and the cut-off has caused Iraq to lose over 3.1 GW of electricity generation capacity.

Trump Waives "Jones Act" Seeking to Stabilize Domestic Energy Prices

Facing soaring energy prices, U.S. President Trump announced countermeasures.

According to CCTV News, on March 18 local time, Trump authorized a temporary 60-day waiver of the "Jones Act," allowing ships flying foreign flags to transport oil, natural gas, and other energy products between U.S. ports, to lower domestic transportation costs.

Reports say the Trump administration characterized the waiver as a move to guarantee energy product transport, safeguard national security, and prevent supply shortages from disrupting military operations.

The "Jones Act," enacted in 1920, is designed to protect U.S. shipbuilding and shipping industries, requiring ships transporting goods between U.S. ports to be built in the U.S., registered under the U.S. flag, owned by U.S. citizens, and operated by U.S. crews. Analysts point out that, according to CCTV News, this waiver is considered by the U.S. government as one measure to alleviate rising energy prices caused by the military action against Iran.

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