Iran has partially suspended gas production at the world's biggest gas field after an Israeli strike caused a fire there on Saturday, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, in what would be the first Israeli strike on Iran's oil and gas sector.
Iran shares the South Pars gas field with Qatar. Striking it would mark a major escalation in the conflict, which had already pushed oil prices up 9% on Friday even though Israel spared Iran's oil and gas on the first day of its attacks.
Israel launched an air offensive against Iran on Friday, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop Tehran building an atomic weapon.
The South Pars field is located offshore in Iran's southern Bushehr province and is responsible for the lion's share of gas production in Iran, the world's third largest gas producer after the United States and Russia.
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The strike caused a fire, which has been extinguished, the Iranian oil ministry said. The fire broke out in one of the four units of Phase 14 of South Pars, halting production of 12 million cubic metres of gas, Tasnim said.
Iran produces around 275 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year or some 6.5% of global gas output, and consumes it domestically as it cannot export gas due to sanctions.
Iran shares the field with Qatar, which calls the field North Field. Qatar produces 77 million tonnes of liquefied gas from the field with the help of global majors such as Exxon and Shell and supplies the gas to Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, Iran launched a fresh wave of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Saturday night, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and cities across northern Israel.
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Explosions were heard shortly after as residents rushed to shelters, signaling successful strikes amid heightened regional tensions.
As per Israeli media, one Israeli woman was killed and dozens were injured in Israel’s Tamra, Lower Galilee, following an Iranian missile attack.
Press TV reported that Iran used Emad, Ghadr, and Khyber-Shaken missiles in the latest strikes on Israel.
The IRGC telegram channel said a massive fire was ignited in the Haifa refinery as a result of an Iranian missile attack.
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 has reported a large fire at a strategic site near Haifa.
