The State of Israel mounted a new attack against Iran’s South Pars natural gas field on Monday, bombing a significant petrochemical facility located in Asaluyeh, claiming that this operation aimed at damaging one of the most vital income sources of Iran.
A spokesman from Israel’s army, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani announced that there “will be no immunity” for Iran even when diplomatic negotiations are underway.
In a press conference, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the action and termed it a bombing of Iran’s biggest petrochemical facility, stating that it produces half of Iran’s petrochemicals.
South Pars is the largest natural gas field in the world, located under the Persian Gulf.
Israel attacked this facility twice since the outbreak of this war on 28 February previously, U.S. President Donald Trump assured that there would be no attack against South Pars from Israel.
Nonetheless, Trump cautioned that if Iran kept attacking facilities related to Qatari energy supplies, the entire natural gas field will be bombed.
Hours before Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic, the strike occurred.
Due to Iran’s control over the waterway, which is used to transport about 25% of the world’s oil during times of peace, Brent crude is now about US$109 per barrel, which is about 50% more than it was before hostilities started.
Wider escalation
Two top Revolutionary Guard officials, among them Major General Majid Khademi, commander of the Guard’s intelligence unit and Asghar Bakeri, who headed the Quds Force’s covert operations wing, were assassinated.
In retaliation, the Iranians launched their rockets against Israel’s northern city of Haifa, where a whole family of four was found dead in the debris of a destroyed apartment building.
Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia have also engaged their air defense systems to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, indicating the magnitude of the war that has escalated into the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, explosions hit Tehran, after aerial attacks on the grounds of the Sharif University of Technology located close to Azadi Square.
Another attack targeted Eslamshahr, 30 kilometers southwest of Tehran, resulting in the death of at least 15 civilians, according to Iranian sources.
ehran has repeatedly made clear that it will not stop its campaign unless it receives compensation from Washington.
In Iran, more than 1,900 people have lost their lives since the start of the war, while in Lebanon the death toll exceeds 1,400. In Israel, at least 23 people have been killed.
As Trump’s ultimatum is about to expire tomorrow night in Washington, the likelihood of escalation is high.
Financial markets around the world are following the situation closely, but for the millions of innocent civilians trapped in the conflict zone, there may not be much time left for diplomacy.
