Iran Restarts South Pars Phase 14 Offshore Facility Following Israeli Strike
On June 26, Iran’s state news agency Nour News announced that the damaged processing unit at the South Pars Phase 14 offshore gas facility had resumed operations. The site had been struck by Israeli forces on June 14 in what marked the first reported attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure in over a decade. South Pars, located off the coast of Bushehr province, is the world’s largest natural gas field and supplies approximately 70 to 75 percent of Iran’s gas output. The strike had ignited a fire within one of Phase 14’s four processing units, temporarily suspending around 12 million cubic meters per day of gas production. Crucially, Iranian authorities confirmed that overall gas production did not stop. The damaged unit was repaired and brought back online within ten days.
The Israeli operation formed part of a broader air campaign initiated on June 13, targeting Iranian military personnel, nuclear facilities, and infrastructure, with the stated aim of halting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. A ceasefire was later brokered on June 23, after twelve days of cross-border strikes.
The Phase 14 restart carries significant implications for regional energy stability and geopolitics. As Iran ranks as the world’s third-largest gas producer behind the United States and Russia, a sustained halt in South Pars operations would have posed serious domestic and international market risks. While most of Iran’s gas is consumed domestically due to sanctions, the swift repair helped reassure downstream industries and importers in neighboring economies.
The facility’s location is strategic; it lies near Qatar’s North Field, and processed gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption could threaten global gas shipments transiting the waterway. Additionally, the ability of Iran’s energy infrastructure to recover quickly, even amid military pressure, serves as a signal of resilience to external actors and a deterrent against future attacks.
Although the incident briefly caused a surge in oil and gas prices, analysts suggest the market has since stabilized following the unit’s rapid repair. Still, the episode underscores how regional energy assets have become entangled in broader geopolitical confrontations. Should tensions escalate, the risk of disruptions—especially in chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz—remains significant.
In summary, the resumption of operations at South Pars Phase 14 is a vital development for Iran’s internal energy provision and the wider regional energy landscape. It demonstrates both the vulnerability and resilience of critical offshore assets amid mounting security threats.
