Trump claims the U.S. did not know Israel was attacking the South Pars gas field in Iran

CBS News
March 19, 2026
3 min read

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Trump said the U.S. did not know Israel was attacking Iran's South Pars natural gas field in advance.

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President Trump is claiming the United States had no advance knowledge of Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, seeking to separate American responsibility from the attack. The assertion appears designed to manage diplomatic fallout from the Israeli operation against one of Iran's most critical energy infrastructure assets. Trump's distancing move reflects the administration's effort to avoid escalating tensions with Iran while maintaining support for Israel's military actions in the region. The South Pars field is a major component of Iran's oil and gas economy, making the strike a significant blow to Tehran's energy sector. The claim contrasts with longstanding U.S.-Israel intelligence sharing arrangements and raises questions about the depth of coordination between the two allies on military operations.

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