On Monday, following reciprocal attacks on petrochemical facilities, Iran threatened to target energy infrastructure in neighboring countries and the wider region if Israel's attacks on Iranian energy sites continue.
An unnamed source told the Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, that new attacks on Iran's energy facilities would trigger targeting of energy assets belonging to the US, Israel, and regional allies. The source added that oil and energy companies with US or Israeli shareholders in the region are considered legitimate targets.
Earlier on Monday, Iranian media reported that Israel struck the Karun petrochemical plant. The facility is located in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, in the port city of Mahshahr, one of the country's main petrochemical and industrial hubs. The Karun complex is one of Iran's largest ethylene producers and a critical link in the nation's chemical export infrastructure.
Videos circulating on social media showed smoke and flames at the plant. About an hour later, the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force announced a retaliatory strike on petrochemical facilities in Haifa.
Haifa is Israel's main industrial port and the center of its petrochemical sector; it hosts the Bazan Group oil refinery, the country's largest, along with numerous chemical plants and storage terminals. Attacks on the Haifa industrial area carry serious risks of civilian and environmental consequences due to the high concentration of hazardous materials stored there.
The Revolutionary Guards stated that the attacks targeted "similar industrial facilities" to those hit in Iran, warning that Israel has initiated a "dangerous game" by targeting civilian energy infrastructure. Israeli forces also announced strikes on military positions in western and central Iran.
These attacks occurred just hours after Iran launched missiles toward Israel in response to a previous Israeli strike on southern Beirut suburbs. At a weekly press briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei directly denied claims by former US President Trump that Washington was trying to prevent Israeli attacks.
"No one believes Israel would take any step without coordination with the United States," Baghaei said, asserting that the US Central Command is "fully coordinated" with Israel in both offensive and defensive operations. He added that Iran's military and diplomatic channels operate in parallel and that the Iranian armed forces will act "whenever necessary."
Baghaei stated that Iran's retaliatory strike was carried out under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which grants member states the right to individual or collective self-defense against armed attacks.
He held the US directly responsible for Israel's actions, recalling Washington's role in the April 8 ceasefire and saying, "Any development leading to a violation of the ceasefire in the region directly implicates the US."
As a key diplomatic message, Baghaei for the first time hinted that enriched uranium stockpiles could be discussed in the second phase of negotiations, marking a clear shift from Tehran's previous stance that the issue was off-limits.
"Various aspects of Iran's nuclear program, including enriched uranium stockpiles, are currently purely hypothetical topics," he said. "If this phase concludes successfully, that issue will be among the topics addressed in the next phase of negotiations." He emphasized that current talks focus on ending the war and that a prisoner exchange with the US is not on the agenda.
Following reports in this direction, Baghaei also denied that Iran struck the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. "Our armed forces openly and boldly announce every target they hit within the framework of Iran's right to self-defense. In this case, we have received no such statement or notification from our armed forces," he said.
He also criticized IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for adopting a "completely biased, non-technical, and political approach" to Iran's nuclear file, marking the latest public criticism from Tehran regarding the agency's oversight role since the war began.
These reciprocal attacks are occurring despite a ceasefire between Iran and the US in effect since April 8. Tehran insists the agreement covers all fronts, including Lebanon and Israeli operations, a view rejected by Washington and Israel.
Reports from Iran and social media footage showed that Israeli attacks on Tehran and other major cities continued on Monday, with air defense systems activated to counter incoming threats.
