A series of Israeli air strikes in recent days has effectively shut down most of Iran’s petrochemicals production. The main targets of the attacks were utility plants that provide electricity and steam for Iran’s two largest petrochemical hubs at Mahshahr (4 April) and Assaluyeh (6 April) in Khuzestan and Bushehr provinces. The two sites account for more than 80% of Iran’s petrochemicals capacity. There were also attacks on petrochemical plants in Shiraz and Marvdasht on 6 April.
Israel began its campaign against Iran’s petrochemical sites with a 30 March attack on Tabriz (MEES, 3 April) as it increasingly targeted assets critical to Iran’s economy ahead of the 7 April ceasefire announcement. It justified the attacks by claiming that chemical products are used to manufacture explosives, missiles and weapons. (CONTINUED - 1036 WORDS)
