{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreibzn4zvmydh5ofcvnj3nwsnryg6nqgo355edtd6i5i6wwkpphb2he",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhfktqxerrh2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihjazovhxhxjvobydpyn4kpoo4dhzlbbngi2a3aanlnh2ebicppfi"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 61547
  },
  "path": "/money/gas-price-surge-iran-strike-energy",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-19T08:05:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Unemployment rate stuck at 5.2% as wage growth plummets ahead of Bank of England announcement",
    "Iran strikes major Qatar gas facility as global energy fears intensify and oil prices top $110",
    "Restaurant boss holds Rachel Reeves 'directly responsible' for site closure leading to 14 job losses",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritish gas prices have surged by more than 20 per cent this morning as the US-Iran war continues to rage on in the Middle East.\n\nOvernight, two waves of strikes from the Islamic Republic resulted in \"extensive damage\" at Qatar's main gas hub, which many European countries are reliant on.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAs of 7:54 am, UK gas prices were sitting at 173p per therm, which is up more than 24 per cent from yesterday.\n\nFurthermore, the oil price is trading at around five per cent higher, close to $113 a barrel.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nQatar's state-run energy firm confirmed \"extensive damage\" had been caused after missile strikes on the Ras Laffan Industrial City on the country's north coast on Wednesday caused damage to a gas-to-liquids facility.\n\nEarly this morning, the attacks caused \"sizeable fires and extensive further damage\" to several liquified natural gas facilities, QatarEnergy said in a statement.\n\nIran's latest assault on the region came after reports Israel launched an attack against the regime's South Pars gas field.\n\nUS President Donald Trump claimed that he \"knew nothing\" of Israel’s strike and that he did not want to authorise \"this level of violence and destruction\", he also promised to \"massively blow up the entirety\" of Iran’s South Pars gas field if Qatar's energy infrastructure is hit again.\n\nQatar’s state-backed energy company Qatar Energy had halted production of liquefied natural gas at its sites at the beginning of the month because of attacks on its facilities.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Unemployment rate stuck at 5.2% as wage growth plummets ahead of Bank of England announcement\n  * Iran strikes major Qatar gas facility as global energy fears intensify and oil prices top $110\n  * Restaurant boss holds Rachel Reeves 'directly responsible' for site closure leading to 14 job losses\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nKathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said the escalation in the conflict was \"spooking the market\" and traders were predicting \"hefty losses for stocks\" when stock markets open.\n\nShe shared:M \"This war looks far from over, and the energy crisis is shifting from a shipping crisis to a supply crisis. If Iran is targeting energy assets in the region, then the conflict gets more serious and the repercussions for a long-term energy price shock also start to play out in financial markets.\"\n\nMs Brooks added that despite Mr Trump’s calls for Israel and Iran to stop targeting energy sites, \"it will take a lot of positive sentiment and news flow to calm energy prices today\".\n\n**_THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS STORY...MORE TO FOLLOW_**\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPlease write at least 4 paragraphs\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "UK gas prices SURGE by more than 20% after Iran strikes cause 'extensive damage' to major energy hub"
}