WASHINGTON (March 18, 2026) – South Pars, one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves located offshore in the Persian Gulf, was hit by an Israeli airstrike. According to Reuters, this facility contains enough gas to supply the world for 13 years. As a crucial hub, South Pars is the biggest source of Iran’s domestic energy supply. This disruption affects Iranians ability to produce electricity or heat homes.
In retaliation for the attack against South Pars, Iran hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing significant damage. Additional attacks targeted two refineries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In response, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry of affairs said that the country reserves the right to respond in accordance with the right to self-defense guaranteed under international law.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies (MES) and Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics, at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. Azodi is an expert in international relations of the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Policy, U.S.-Iranian Relations, Nuclear non-proliferation, Iran’s nuclear program and Iranian politics. Azodi can discuss the threats of rising tensions between Iran and Israel.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-