US President Donald Trump has said Israel will refrain from launching further attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field unless Tehran chooses to strike Qatar again, amid a sharp escalation in tensions across the Gulf region.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Israel’s earlier strike on Iran’s South Pars offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) field was carried out “out of anger” over the ongoing conflict. He added that the United States had no prior knowledge of the Israeli action.

Trump also emphasised that Qatar had no involvement in the incident. “The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form involved with it,” he said.

According to Trump, Iran responded to the situation without full information and carried out what he described as an “unjustified” attack on Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.

He warned that Israel would not target the South Pars field again unless Iran escalates by attacking Qatar. However, he issued a strong warning that the United States could take direct action if such a scenario unfolds.

“If Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, the United States, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will respond with overwhelming force,” Trump said, while adding that he would prefer to avoid such escalation due to long-term consequences.

Iran strikes Qatar energy facilities

QatarEnergy confirmed that Iranian missile strikes hit LNG facilities in the country, causing fires and significant damage. Emergency teams were deployed to control the situation, and no casualties have been reported so far.

Qatar, one of the world’s leading exporters of natural gas, had already halted production earlier due to the conflict. The latest damage could further delay supply recovery, raising concerns in global energy markets.

Regional tensions widen

The situation intensified after Israel targeted Iran’s South Pars gas field, a major shared energy resource between Iran and Qatar. In retaliation, Iran expanded its strikes across the Gulf region.

Reports indicate that Iranian attacks also targeted gas infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, including the Habshan facility and Bab field. Authorities described the strikes as a “dangerous escalation,” though operations had been shut down following defensive interceptions.

Qatar has reportedly asked Iranian embassy officials to leave the country within 24 hours, signalling a further deterioration in diplomatic ties.

Oil prices surge amid supply fears

The ongoing conflict has significantly impacted global energy markets. Oil prices rose by around 5 per cent, crossing $108 per barrel, as concerns grew over supply disruptions.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for nearly one-fifth of global oil supply, remains under pressure, contributing to market volatility. Brent crude prices have surged करीब 50 per cent since the conflict began on February 28.

In response to tightening supplies, the US administration has moved to ease certain sanctions on Venezuela, allowing American companies to engage with its state-owned oil sector to stabilise supply.

Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region witnessed another spell of rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds on Wednesday evening, marking the second such weather event in the past four days.

The sudden change brought relief from unusually high temperatures recorded earlier this month. According to officials, the temperature at Safdarjung — the city’s base weather station — was recorded at 24 degrees Celsius at 7 pm.

The India Meteorological Department had earlier issued an alert predicting light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on March 18. Several areas across the capital experienced gusty winds along with brief but intense showers.

More rain likely over next two days

The weather department has forecast partly cloudy skies for March 19 and 20, with chances of light rain or thundershowers occurring once or twice during the day. On March 21, skies are expected to remain cloudy with the possibility of light showers continuing.

Conditions are likely to stabilise from March 23 onwards, with forecasts indicating a return to partly cloudy to clear skies across the region.

Weather activity across India to intensify

The IMD has also indicated widespread weather activity across multiple regions of the country in the coming days. Rainfall is expected to intensify in several states, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.

In the northeastern region, heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya during the early part of the week.

Meanwhile, the western Himalayan region is also set to witness a shift in weather patterns. Himachal Pradesh is likely to receive heavy rainfall on March 19 and 20, while Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir may experience heavy showers around March 20.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, firming up its strategy alongside National Democratic Alliance partners as campaigning gathers pace in the state.

Under the agreement, the BJP will contest 89 seats, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front — will field candidates in 26 and 11 constituencies respectively. The distribution has been decided after internal deliberations, with the focus now shifting to candidate announcements and campaign execution.

Campaign push led by top leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three rallies in Assam during the final leg of the campaign. Tentative dates for the rallies are April 1, April 3 and April 6, with events likely to be held in key constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also set to spearhead an extensive campaign across the state through March, aiming to energise party workers and strengthen voter outreach.

Candidate selection underway

The party’s Central Election Committee is currently meeting to finalise candidates. Sources indicate that approvals for most constituencies are expected soon, and the BJP may release its complete list of candidates within the next two days.

Ticket distribution remains a crucial exercise, with internal discussions highlighting its potential impact on local political dynamics. Party leaders have also touched upon the proposed delimitation exercise scheduled for 2027, which is expected to have long-term implications for Assam’s electoral landscape.

Polling and counting dates

Voting for all 126 Assembly seats in Assam is scheduled for April 9, while the votes will be counted on May 4.