JERUSALEM, March 20, (V7N) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Iran is being “decimated” and that it is unclear who is currently in charge in Tehran, as Iranian attacks on Gulf oil and gas facilities sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

Nearly three weeks into the US‑Israel war against Iran, Netanyahu claimed the Islamic republic no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles. He praised coordination with US President Donald Trump and said the conflict “is ending a lot faster than people think,” though he offered no timeline. Washington, however, reiterated that it has set no deadline for ending the war launched on February 28.

Netanyahu said he was “not sure who’s running Iran right now,” noting that Mojtaba Khamenei — appointed supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli strike on day one of the war — “has not shown his face.” He added that Israel is observing “cracks” within Iran’s leadership and military ranks.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun renewed his call for a truce between Israel and Hezbollah during talks with French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot. Lebanon’s health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs has surpassed 1,000.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels called for a moratorium on strikes targeting energy and water infrastructure and vowed to prevent “uncontrolled migratory movements” toward the bloc.

Global energy markets were shaken after Iranian missiles struck Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex — the world’s largest — causing “extensive damage” that QatarEnergy estimates could cost $20 billion annually and take five years to repair. Iran also targeted refineries in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port and Kuwait’s Mina Abdullah and Mina Al‑Ahmadi facilities. Brent crude briefly surged 6% to $119 before settling near $110, while European gas prices jumped nearly 30%.

Israel’s Haifa oil refinery was also hit, with local media showing plumes of black smoke rising from the site. Iran warned of “zero restraint” if its infrastructure is attacked again, and its Khatam al‑Anbiya command threatened “complete destruction” of Gulf energy assets if Israel repeats its strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field.

Trump said he had asked Netanyahu not to strike Iranian gas fields again, though he insisted the US and Israel remain fully coordinated. He warned that the United States would “blow up” South Pars if Iran continued attacking Qatar but said there were no current plans to deploy ground troops.

Amid rising global concern, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands pledged to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though details remain unclear. France’s President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “reckless escalation” and urged direct US‑Iran talks.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war has no fixed endpoint but insisted operations are “on track,” adding that President Trump will decide when objectives have been met.

END/WD/RH/