DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel struck a key petrochemical plant at Iran’s massive South Pars natural gas field and killed two paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commanders on Monday, raising questions about a proposed 45-day ceasefire between Tehran and the United States.
Israel Strikes Iran’s South Pars Gas Field
Israel said the attack on the gas field aimed to eliminate a major source of revenue for Iran. The field, shared with Qatar, is the world’s largest and is critical to Iran’s electricity production. The strike appeared separate from threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump to target power plants and bridges if Tehran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic.
Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to surge and shaken the world economy. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the “powerful strike on the largest petrochemical facility in Iran.”
The White House did not immediately comment. Trump had previously stated Israel would not attack the field again, but warned the U.S. would “massively blow up” the field if Iran continued targeting Qatar’s energy infrastructure.
Ceasefire Proposal Under Discussion
Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators have presented Iran and the U.S. with a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to two Mideast officials. Iran and the U.S. have not yet responded to the proposal, which was sent late Sunday. Officials in Islamabad said Pakistan’s ceasefire efforts are at an advanced stage, but face opposition from those seeking to spread disinformation.
Explosions were reported in Tehran, with low-flying jets heard for hours.
Iranian Commanders Killed in Strike
Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, confirmed by Iranian state media and Israel’s defense minister. Israel’s military also reported killing Asghar Bakeri, leader of the Revolutionary Guard’s undercover unit in its Quds Force.
Katz vowed to continue targeting top-ranking Iranian officials, stating, “Iran’s leaders live with a sense of being targeted. We will continue to hunt them down one by one.”
Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia activated air defenses to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. In Israel, Iranian missiles struck Haifa, killing four people from one family in a residential building.
Oil Prices Rise Amidst Growing Pressure
Iran’s attacks on regional energy infrastructure and its control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped, have driven global energy prices higher. Brent crude oil rose to $109 in Monday spot trading, a 50% increase since the start of the war.
Trump has warned Iran that if no deal is reached to reopen the strait, the U.S. would target power plants and infrastructure, potentially setting the country “back to the stone ages.” He threatened further action, stating, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one.” He later posted a deadline of “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”
Former Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayatir urged Arab countries to discourage Trump from striking power plants, warning the entire region would go “dark” if that happens. Iran’s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called Trump’s threats “reckless.”
Iran has allowed some vessels through the strait since the war began, but not those from the U.S., Israel, or countries perceived as supporting them. Some vessels have paid Iran for passage, but traffic is down more than 90% compared to the same period last year.
Airstrikes Across Iran
An airstrike near Tehran’s Azadi Square hit the grounds of the Sharif University of Technology, which has been sanctioned by multiple countries for its work with the military on Iran’s ballistic missile program. Araghchi called the university “the MIT of Iran,” vowing retaliation.
Iranian media reported damage to buildings and a natural gas distribution site next to campus. A strike near Eslamshar, southwest of Tehran, killed at least 15 people. Five were killed in Qom, six in other cities, and three in Tehran, according to state media.
In Lebanon, an airstrike hit an apartment in Ain Saadeh, killing an official in the Lebanese Forces, his wife, and another woman.
War’s Rising Death Toll
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, though the government has not updated the toll recently. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, and over 1 million displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon. In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
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