TEHRAN, IRAN, March 19 (V7N)— Iran has warned of sweeping retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf following strikes on its key gas facilities, escalating fears of a broader conflict that could severely disrupt global fuel supplies and rattle already volatile markets.

The threat comes amid intensifying hostilities in the region, with Tehran vowing a forceful response after its vital South Pars gas field — the world’s largest — was hit in recent attacks attributed to Israel. The escalation has triggered a chain of retaliatory strikes and heightened tensions across multiple Gulf nations.

“We warn you once again that you made a big mistake in attacking the energy infrastructure of the Islamic republic,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement. “If it is repeated again, further attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until it is completely destroyed.”

The warning followed a missile strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city — one of the world’s most critical liquefied natural gas hubs — which caused a major fire and extensive damage, according to Qatari authorities. In response, Doha expelled two Iranian diplomats, signaling a sharp diplomatic fallout.

Regional tensions deepened further as Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones targeting energy facilities in its eastern region, while missile debris was found near a refinery south of Riyadh. In the United Arab Emirates, operations at key gas sites in Abu Dhabi were halted after falling debris from intercepted missiles struck facilities at Habshan and the Bab oil field.

The UAE condemned the incident as a “serious escalation” and a violation of international law.

Global oil markets reacted sharply, with prices surging more than three percent on Thursday amid the near-total disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global energy trade.

The latest escalation follows the killing of Iran’s intelligence chief Esmail Khatib in an الإسرائيلي strike, marking another significant blow to Tehran’s leadership after weeks of targeted attacks. Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as a “cowardly assassination,” while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed retaliation, declaring that “every drop of spilled blood comes at a price.”

The conflict has also drawn international concern. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate halt to strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure after discussions with US President Donald Trump and Qatar’s leadership.

“Civilian populations and their essential needs, as well as the security of energy supplies, must be preserved from military escalation,” Macron said.

Despite heavy losses among senior officials, US intelligence assessments suggest Iran’s government remains “intact but largely degraded,” according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Meanwhile, violence continues across the region. Missile strikes in central Israel have pushed the death toll there to at least 15, while Israeli bombardments in Lebanon — particularly in Beirut — have intensified clashes with Hezbollah, displacing thousands of civilians.

In southern Lebanon, residents fled en masse toward safer areas such as Sidon. “Bakers died while making bread… municipal workers were martyred while using bulldozers,” said Nidal Ahmad Chokr, a displaced resident, describing the devastation in his village.

As the war enters its third week, the risk of a wider regional conflict continues to grow, with energy infrastructure emerging as a central target — raising alarms over long-term global economic and security consequences.

END/WD/RH