News

Israel says it will hold off striking key Iranian natural gas field as war rattles energy markets

The Sun Chronicle · last updated

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gas field after Iran intensified attacks Thursday on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf, raising the stakes in a war that has sent shock waves through energy markets and the global economy.

Global fuel supplies were already under pressure because of Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm%96 xD=2>:4 #6AF3=:4’D C6E2=:2E:@? 7@C xDC26=VD 2EE24< @? :ED $@FE9 !2CD 82D 7:6=5 D6?E 7F6= AC:46D D@2C:?8 6G6? 9:896C 2?5 C:D<65 5C2H:?8 xC2?’D pC23 ?6:893@CD 5:C64E=J :?E@ E96 4@?7=:4E]k^Am

kAmxDC26=: !C:>6 |:?:DE6C q6?;2>:? }6E2?J29F D2:5 =2E6 %9FCD52J E92E[ 2E E96 C6BF6DE @7 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A[ xDC26= H:== 9@=5 @77 @? 2?J 7FCE96C 2EE24<D @? E96 @77D9@C6 82D 7:6=5]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 &]$] 2?5 xDC26= =2F?4965 E96 H2C @? u63] ag[ xC2?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\FD\:DC26=\<:==:?8\=6256CD\96K3@==29\92>2D\9:DE@CJ\h6h657`_g26gagg4efb3hec4_ee3dh4eQmE@A =6256CD 92G6 366? <:==65k^2m :? 2:CDEC:<6D 2?5 E96 4@F?ECJ’D >:=:E2CJ 42A23:=:E:6D 92G6 366? D6G6C6=J 568C2565] }6E2?J29F D2:5 :? 2 E6=6G:D65 255C6DD E92E xC2? ?@ =@?86C 92D E96 23:=:EJ E@ 6?C:49 FC2?:F> @C >2<6 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6D[ 2=E9@F89 96 5:5 ?@E AC@G:56 6G:56?46]k^Am

kAm$E:==[ xC2? — ?@H =65 3J E96 D@? @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\FD\6IA=@D:@?\E69C2?\4a7“acf5g2ee6behahaee7a4ddf2dc4nFE>0D@FC46l4@AJU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lD92C6QmDFAC6>6 =6256Ck^2m <:==65 :? E96 H2C’D @A6?:?8 D2=G@ — C6>2:?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\DEC2E68J\:DC26=\5C@?6D\FD\H2C\8F=7\be2d`57dd_2c35fee7g4gb3g5g4_7f_`Qm42A23=6 @7 >:DD:=6 2?5 5C@?6 2EE24<Dk^2m E2C86E:?8 :ED vF=7 pC23 ?6:893@CD]k^Am

kAm&?56CD4@C:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D9:AD\:C2?\@:=\49:?2\FD\ECF>A\9@C>FK\ga2h243cfbgbf7`37f2ga`5_4b7hda_dQm52?86C E@ D9:AD :? E96 C68:@?k^2m[ 2 G6DD6= H2D D6E 23=2K6 @77 E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6DV 4@2DE 2?5 2?@E96C H2D 52>2865 @77 “2E2C] t77@CED E@ 3JA2DD E96 DEC2:E H6C6 2=D@ F?56C AC6DDFC6i p? xC2?:2? 5C@?6 9:E 2 $2F5: C67:?6CJ @? E96 #65 $62[ H9:49 E96 4@F?ECJ 925 9@A65 E@ FD6 2D 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 C@FE6]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^DE@4<D\>2C<6ED\@:=\:C2?\ECF>A`236557f4c37`h5`54he3b7ab4`56c_aQmqC6?E 4CF56 @:=k^2m[ E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= DE2?52C5[ 3C:67=J DFC865 23@G6 S“h 2 32CC6=[ FA >@C6 E92? e_T D:?46 E96 H2C DE2CE65] %96 tFC@A62? 36?49>2C< 7@C ?2EFC2= 82D AC:46D 2=D@ C@D6 D92CA=J 2?5 92D C@F89=J 5@F3=65 :? E96 A2DE >@?E9]k^Am

k9am&]}] $64FC:EJ r@F?4:= >66ED @G6C xC2?VD 2EE24<D @? vF=7 DE2E6Dk^9am

kAm%96 &?:E65 }2E:@?D $64FC:EJ r@F?4:= 96=5 2? FC86?E 4=@D65 >66E:?8 %9FCD52J 5FC:?8 H9:49 vF=7 4@F?EC:6D DEC6DD65 E96 ?665 7@C xC2? E@ 92=E 2EE24<D @? E96>[ D2:5 q29C2:?’D &]}] p>32DD25@C y2>2= p=C@H2:6:[ E96 pC23 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @? E96 &]}]’D >@DE A@H6C7F= 3@5J]k^Am

kAmqFE xC2? 92D D9@H65 ?@ D:8?D @7 324<:?8 5@H?] $2F5: pC23:2 D2:5 :ED $p|#tu C67:?6CJ :? E96 #65 $62 A@CE 4:EJ @7 *2?3F H2D 9:E] $2F5: pC23:2 925 368F? AF>A:?8 =2C86 G@=F>6D @7 @:= H6DE E@H2C5 E96 #65 $62 E@ 2G@:5 E96 $EC2:E @7 w@C>FK]k^Am

kAm”2E2C[ 2 <6J D@FC46 @7 ?2EFC2= 82D 7@C H@C=5 >2C<6ED[ D2:5 xC2?:2? >:DD:=6D E92E 42FD65 6IE6?D:G6 52>286 E@ E96 #2D {2772? =:BF67:65 ?2EFC2= 82D 724:=:EJ[ C65F465 :ED 6IA@CED 3J 23@FE `f A6C46?E 2?5 H:== 4@DE 23@FE Sa_ 3:==:@? :? =@DE C6G6?F6 2 J62C] %96 52>286 H:== E2<6 FA E@ 7:G6 J62CD E@ C6A2:C[ 6G6? E9@F89 AC@5F4E:@? 2E E96 724:=:EJ 925 2=C625J 366? 92=E65 27E6C 62C=:6C 2EE24<D]k^Am

kAm%H@ @:= C67:?6C:6D :? zFH2:E 2?5 82D @A6C2E:@?D :? p3F s923: 2=D@ H6C6 E2C86E65 3J xC2?[ 2FE9@C:E:6D D2:5]k^Am

kAm|:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 7=65 E@ D96=E6CD :? xDC26= 2D D:C6?D H2C?65 C6A62E65=J 27E6C 2 32CC286 @7 xC2?:2? >:DD:=6D :? E96 46?EC2= A2CE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ 2D H6== 2D y6CFD2=6> 2?5 2C62D ?62C3J[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 (6DE q2?<]k^Am

k9am}6E2?J29F D2JD xC2?VD >:=:E2CJ 92D 366? D6G6C6=J 9:Ek^9am

kAmpE %9FCD52JVD ?6HD 4@?76C6?46[ }6E2?J29F D2:5i “xC2?VD 2:C 5676?D6D 92G6 366? C6?56C65 FD6=6DD[ E96:C ?2GJ :D =J:?8 2E E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 D62] ]]] %96:C 2:C 7@C46 :D ?62C=J 56DEC@J65]”k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 96 9@A6D E96 xC2?:2? A6@A=6 H:== C:D6 FA 282:?DE E96 xD=2>:4 #6AF3=:4 E92E 92D CF=65 7@C ?62C=J 2 92=7\46?EFCJ] %96C6’D 366? ?@ D:8? @7 2?J @C82?:K65 @AA@D:E:@? D:?46 E96 H2C 3682?[ 27E6C xC2?:2? 2FE9@C:E:6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\AC@E6DED\>6>@C:2=D\49696=@>\f`6d53d_b2agf`ae2a5b`43ba2ag_h63Qm4CFD965 >2DD AC@E6DED :? y2?F2CJk^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 AC:>6 >:?:DE6CVD 4@>>6?ED E@ 7@C6:8? ;@FC?2=:DED 42>6 2>:5 5:77:4F=E 52JD 7@C %CF>A 2?5 }6E2?J29F[ H:E9 2 E@A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;@6\<6?E\:C2?\H2C\2?E:D6>:E:D>\C6AF3=:42?D\42C=D@?\f53aae55e5e6c64e76dbg5`f6f_d7_5`Qm&]$] :?E6==:86?46 @77:4:2= C6D:8?:?8k^2m 2?5 4=2:>:?8 xDC26= AFD965 %CF>A :?E@ E96 H2C[ 2?5 xDC26=VD 2EE24<D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\82D\7:6=5\D@FE9\A2CD\2EE24<\d25cd_h_5b3eeccccef44add66hee2bfQm$@FE9 !2CDk^2m[ H9:49 =65 E@ xC2?’D C6E2=:2E@CJ DEC:<6D @? E96 C68:@?’D @:= 2?5 82D 7:6=5D]k^Am

kAm“x >:D=65 ?@ @?6[” }6E2?J29F D2:5] “p?5 x 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ 4@?G:?46 !C6D:56?E %CF>A 23@FE E96 ?665 E@ AC6G6?E xC2? 7C@> 56G6=@A:?8 :ED ?F4=62C AC@8C2>]”k^Am

kAmv6?] s2? r2:?6[ 492:C>2? @7 E96 y@:?E r9:67D @7 $E277[ D2:5 E92E &]$] 7@C46D H6C6 2EE24<:?8 566A6C :?E@ xC2?:2? E6CC:E@CJ[ H:E9 H2CA=2?6D 9F?E:?8 xC2?:2? 3@2ED :? E96 DEC2:E 2?5 5C@AA:?8 d[___\A@F?5 3@>3D @? F?56C8C@F?5 H62A@?D\DE@C286 724:=:E:6D]k^Am

kAmxC2?’D DE2E6 %’[ BF@E:?8 2 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5 DE2E6>6?E[ D2:5 E96 4@F?ECJ’D 2:C 5676?D6 DJDE6> 9:E 2? u\bd 7:89E6C ;6E] &]$] r6?EC2= r@>>2?5 D2:5 2? u\bd >256 2? 6>6C86?4J =2?5:?8 27E6C 7=J:?8 2 4@>32E >:DD:@? @G6C xC2?] p 4@>>2?5 DA@<6D>2?[ r2AE] %:> w2H<:?D[ D2:5 E96 2:C4C27E =2?565 D276=J[ E96 A:=@E H2D :? “DE23=6” 4@?5:E:@? 2?5 E96 :?4:56?E H2D F?56C :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am

k9am%CF>A D2JD 96 :D ?@E 56A=@J:?8 EC@@AD E@ xC2?k^9am

kAmxC2? 4@?56>?65 xDC26=VD 2EE24< @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\82D\7:6=5\D@FE9\A2CD\2EE24<\d25cd_h_5b3eeccccef44add66hee2bfQm$@FE9 !2CDk^2m[ E96 xC2?:2? A2CE @7 E96 H@C=5’D =2C86DE 82D 7:6=5[ =@42E65 @77D9@C6 :? E96 !6CD:2? vF=7 2?5 @H?65 ;@:?E=J H:E9 “2E2C]k^Am

kAm(:E9 D@>6 g_T @7 A@H6C 86?6C2E65 :? xC2? 4@>:?8 7C@> ?2EFC2= 82D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= t?6C8J p86?4J[ E96 2EE24< E9C62E6?D E96 4@F?ECJ’D 6=64EC:4:EJ DFAA=:6D]k^Am

kAmp7E6C %CF>A C6BF6DE65 xDC26= ?@E 2EE24< $@FE9 !2CD[ 96 2=D@ H2C?65 @? D@4:2= >65:2 E92E :7 xC2? 4@?E:?F65 DEC:<:?8 “2E2C[ E96 &]$] H@F=5 “>2DD:G6=J 3=@H FA E96 6?E:C6EJ” @7 E96 7:6=5]k^Am

kAmpD<65 =2E6C 23@FE E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 &]$] 8C@F?5 EC@@AD 36:?8 56A=@J65 E@ xC2?[ %CF>A C6DA@?565i “}@] x’> ?@E AFEE:?8 EC@@AD 2?JH96C6]”k^Am

k9ams62E9 E@== 4=:>3D :? E9:C5 H66< @7 H2Ck^9am

kAm|@C6 E92? `[b__ A6@A=6 :? xC2? 92G6 366? <:==65 5FC:?8 E96 H2C] xDC26=: DEC:<6D 282:?DE E96 xC2?:2?\324<65 w6K3@==29 >:=:E2?E 8C@FA :? {632?@? 92G6 5:DA=2465 >@C6 E92? ` >:==:@? A6@A=6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 {632?6D6 8@G6C?>6?E[ H9:49 D2JD >@C6 E92? `[___ A6@A=6 92G6 366? <:==65] xDC26= D2JD :E 92D <:==65 >@C6 E92? d__ w6K3@==29 >:=:E2?ED]k^Am

kAmx? xDC26=[ `d A6@A=6 92G6 366? <:==65 3J xC2?:2? >:DD:=6 7:C6] u@FC A6@A=6 H6C6 2=D@ <:==65 :? E96 @44FA:65 (6DE q2?< 3J 2? xC2?:2? >:DD:=6 DEC:<6 @G6C?:89E]k^Am

kAmpE =62DE `b &]$] >:=:E2CJ >6>36CD 92G6 366? <:==65]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm|6=K6C C6A@CE65 7C@> %KF<:>[ xDC26=[ (2ED@? 7C@> $2? s:68@] pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6CD s2G:5 #:D:?8 :? q2?8<@<[ |:<6 r@C56C :? %96 w28F6[ }6E96C=2?5D[ t5:E9 |] {656C6C :? }6H *@C<[ {:D2 |2D42C@ :? (2D9:?8E@?[ v:@G2??2 s6==’~CE@ :? |:2>: 2?5 u2E>2 z92=65 :? r2:C@ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am