On Saturday night, the United States and Israel conducted a series of strikes on oil facilities in southern Tehran, marking what Iranian state media described as the first reported bombing of the Islamic republic's energy infrastructure.
According to the Iranian agency ILNA, the strikes targeted four oil depots and a petroleum product transport center located in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, near a strategic refinery. Authorities reported that the main refinery did not suffer direct damage.
Keramat Veyskarami, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, confirmed to state television that the facilities were hit by "enemy aircraft."
Following the bombings, large-scale fires broke out in the area, visible from nearby highways, although emergency teams managed to control the flames hours later.
The attack came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a military offensive against Iran. "Iran will be hit very hard today," the president stated on his platform Truth Social, also warning that Washington could expand its list of targets in Iranian territory if Tehran's "bad behavior" in the region continued.
Trump further claimed that the military pressure exerted alongside Israel had forced Iran to apologize to neighboring countries, asserting that the Iranian regime is "no longer the bully of the Middle East, but the loser of the Middle East."
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would continue its offensive "with full force," aiming to shift the balance of power in the region. According to Netanyahu, individuals within the Iranian regime who lay down their arms would not face retaliation.
The day of conflict also included other coordinated airstrikes on strategic targets within Iran. Among these were reported bombings of Mehrabad International Airport, as well as severe damage to desalination plants on Qeshm Island, leaving over 30 southern communities without access to potable water.
Iranian officials reported that the attacks affected critical infrastructure and civilians. However, the Israeli military claimed that the Mehrabad airport served as a "central hub" for the storage and distribution of weapons and funding to Tehran's allied groups, particularly the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
The operations also reportedly hit other air terminals, including those at Bushehr and Payam in Karaj. According to the Israeli account, at least 16 Iranian military aircraft, which posed a threat to Israeli air operations, were destroyed during the attacks.
This military escalation signals a new chapter in the mounting tension between Iran, the United States, and Israel, heightening international concern over the risk of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
Key Questions on the U.S. and Israel's Actions in Iran
What facilities were targeted in the U.S. and Israel strikes?
The strikes targeted four oil depots and a transport center for petroleum products in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, close to a strategic refinery.
How did the Iranian government respond to the attacks?
Iranian officials reported that the attacks impacted critical infrastructure and civilians, though emergency teams managed to contain the fires.
What was the stated reason for the attacks by the U.S. and Israel?
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the attacks were part of a strategy to alter the power dynamics in the region and curb Tehran's "bad behavior."