File image.
Israel struck Iran’s largest petrochemical facility on April 6, amid extensive diplomatic efforts to end the war which broke out more than a month ago.
Iranian media reported that a series of strikes targeted petrochemical facilities at South Pars, the Islamic Republic’s largest gas field.
Defense Minister Israel Katz later confirmed the strikes, saying in a statement that the Israeli military “has just powerfully struck the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh, a central target responsible for about 50 percent of the country’s petrochemical production, following last week’s strike on the second main facility.”
He said that the two facilities, “which together are responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports, have been taken out of use and are not functioning.”
“This is a severe economic blow amounting to tens of billions of dollars to the Iranian regime,” he added.
Katz also claimed that the petrochemical industry is a “central engine in financing the activities” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s military build-up.
He said that the Israeli military has been instructed to “continue striking with full force the national infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.”
“The Iranian terror regime will discover that continued aggression against Israel and the cowardly and criminal firing at Israeli civilians will lead to a deepening of the economic and strategic damage it pays and to the collapse of its capabilities,” Katz added.
The fires caused by the attack on South Pars were quickly put down, but Iranian media reported after Katz’ statement that a second petrochemical facility was struck.
“A few minutes ago, the Marvdasht Petrochemical Complex was targeted by an American-Zionist enemy attack,” the Fars news agency reported, noting that a fire there was also put down.
Two days earlier, United States President Donald Trump issued a new 48-hour ultimatum, warning that energy facilities in Iran will be attacked.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all hell will reign (sic) down on them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Glory be to GOD!”
Later, Reuters reported that Israel is preparing to attack Iranian energy facilities but is awaiting a green light from the U.S.
As Trump’s ultimatum nears its end, Iran conveyed its response to a U.S. proposal for ending the war to Pakistan, rejecting a ceasefire and emphasizing the necessity of a permanent end to the war, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Iran’s response consists of ten clauses, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions and reconstruction, the agency added.
Trump, from his side, confirmed receiving a proposal from Iran for a ceasefire, calling it “significant,” while clarifying that it doesn’t go far enough.
“They’ve made a proposal… It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Trump said while fielding questions from reporters during the White House Easter egg hunt.
Asked whether his April 7 deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will be his final one, given that he has already pushed it back two other times, Trump insisted that he won’t be doing so again.
The latest Israeli strikes on petrochemical facilities in South Pars and Marvdasht were clearly carried out to sabotage the ongoing diplomatic efforts. Since the start of the war, Iran has repeatedly warned that it would respond to any attacks on such facilities in kind.
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