TEHRAN — Iran’s South Pars petrochemical facilities in the energy hub of Asaluyeh were struck on Monday, and Israel claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military carried out a “powerful strike” on what he described as Iran’s largest petrochemical complex, responsible for a large share of the nation’s petrochemical output, and claimed the targeted sites “are no longer operational.”

Iranian media reported explosions and fires at the South Pars facilities, which were later largely brought under control by emergency crews, with no immediate confirmation of casualties. The targeted infrastructure is central to Iran’s gas processing and petrochemical production, tying directly into the output of the South Pars natural gas field — the largest known in the world and a core driver of Iran’s energy economy.

The strikes come amid ongoing conflict dynamics that have already seen multiple Iranian energy and petrochemical sites hit in recent weeks, including facilities near Mahshahr. Iranian officials also reported additional explosions at related industrial complexes further north.

Israel has emphasized that the United States was not involved in these particular strikes, presenting the operations as independent Israeli military actions. Tehran rejects this separation, accusing both Washington and Tel Aviv of coordinated aggression aimed at crippling Iran’s industrial and export capacity. Critics note the timing of the assault — just before a deadline set by former US President Donald Trump — appears calculated to undermine any momentum toward de‑escalation. Iran contends that such attacks are part of a broader strategy by the US and Israel to deindustrialize the country, complicate reconstruction, destabilize governance, and deepen social and economic distress. 

Iran has so far hit Israel and US bases in the Persian Gulf in retaliation. Iran has vowed a harsher response to continued attacks on its energy facilities.