Trump Threatens Retaliatory Strike on Iranian Gas Fields After New Missile Attacks

President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Tehran, threatening to 'massively blow up' Iran's South Pars Gas Field. The warning follows a second round of Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan, the world's largest liquefied natural gas facility. In response to the regional instability and the suspension of UAE operations, global oil prices surged to $112 per barrel. Amid the growing economic and military pressure, the U.S. Department of Defense has submitted a request to Congress for more than $200 billion to sustain operations as the conflict enters its third week. On the military front, U.S. Central Command confirmed the use of 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions against hardened Iranian anti-ship cruise missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz. While the Pentagon has provided the President with various tactical options, including those regarding Iranian nuclear materials, Trump stated he has yet to make a final decision on ground operations. Simultaneously, Trump has questioned the U.S. responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that nations that utilize the waterway should lead the effort to keep it open. Diplomatic relations in the Gulf have reached a new low, with Saudi crystals signaling a significant policy shift. The Saudi Arabian foreign minister declared that trust in Iran has been 'shattered' following continuous strikes on shared energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that allies are now in discussions regarding the best way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, following Trump’s insistence that the U.S. should not bear the sole burden of maritime security in the region.