Trump Orders Israel to Halt Strikes on Iranian Gas Field Amid Energy War Escalation

President Donald Trump has directed Israel to cease military operations against Iran’s South Pars gas field, signaling a strategic shift to prevent a "Total Energy War" in the Persian Gulf. The directive follows Israeli strikes on the world’s largest offshore gas field, which is shared between Iran and Qatar. The escalation has prompted Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatari energy infrastructure, resulting in extensive damage to a major LNG plant and driving global oil prices to $110 per barrel. The regional fallout has led to significant diplomatic and military friction. Qatar has expelled Iran’s security and military attaches, giving them 24 hours to leave the country. Meanwhile, U.S. and allied forces remain on high alert after Iranian projectiles targeted bases in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; an Iranian strike on Australia's Al Minhad base in the UAE drew sharp condemnation from the Australian Prime Minister. In Washington, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is facing intense scrutiny following a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. While her written report stated that Iran has made no effort to rebuild its nuclear enrichment program following 2025 U.S. strikes, she omitted this detail during her oral testimony. Senator Mark Warner accused Gabbard of a "cover-up," leading to a heated confrontation over the administration's transparency regarding the threat posed by Tehran.