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Israel has carried out a major military operation targeting Iran’s largest petrochemical complex, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict and heightening fears of further confrontation.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said the military had “just carried out a powerful strike on the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh”, which is responsible for around half of the country’s petrochemical production.
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, multiple explosions were heard around the Asaluyeh complex earlier on Monday, signalling the impact of the strike on the key energy hub.
The latest development follows earlier attacks in March on the South Pars gas field, considered one of the most significant escalations since hostilities began.
Those strikes triggered retaliatory action by Iran, which targeted oil and gas infrastructure across Gulf Arab states.
The South Pars field plays a crucial role in Iran’s energy sector, supporting its status as the largest gas producer in the Middle East while also meeting the bulk of domestic energy demands, including cooking and heating.
The attack comes just a day before former US president Donald Trump’s stated deadline for initiating strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran fails to agree to a peace deal.
Reports indicate that both the United States and Iran are currently reviewing fresh ceasefire proposals presented by mediators.
Israel strikes Iran’s largest petrochemical facility ahead of Trump deadline
