TEL AVIV — US President Donald Trump publicly denied American involvement in Israel's strike against Iran's South Pars gas field, marking a rare instance of daylight between Washington and Jerusalem on military operations in the Persian Gulf.

The South Pars field, jointly operated by Iran and Qatar, represents one of the world's largest natural gas reserves and serves as a cornerstone of both nations' energy exports. Israeli military sources confirmed the operation targeted production facilities on the Iranian side of the maritime boundary, though damage assessments remain classified. "This action was taken unilaterally by Israeli forces without consultation with US command structures," said Pentagon spokesperson Admiral Sarah Chen during a Tuesday briefing.

Trump's statement came alongside sharp warnings to Iran against targeting Qatari energy infrastructure in retaliation. The president specifically mentioned concerns about potential attacks on Qatar's liquefied natural gas terminals, which supply roughly 20 percent of global LNG exports. Regional energy analysts noted that any disruption to Qatari facilities could trigger worldwide price spikes. "Iran understands that targeting Qatar crosses a red line for multiple stakeholders, including the US military presence at Al Udeid," explained Dr. Hassan Mahmoud, director of Gulf energy policy at the Institute for Regional Studies.

Iranian officials have yet to formally respond to either the Israeli strike or Trump's warnings, though Revolutionary Guard commanders issued preliminary statements condemning the attack as "economic terrorism." Energy markets reacted nervously to the developments, with Brent crude futures climbing 3.2 percent in overnight trading as traders priced in potential supply disruptions across the Persian Gulf corridor.