Photo courtesy of Tasnim news agency.
The military "just carried out a powerful strike on Iran's largest petrochemical facility, located in Asaluyeh—a central target responsible for about 50 percent of the country's petrochemical production", Katz said in a video statement.
Earlier, Iranian media reported several explosions at the South Pars petrochemical complex in Assaluyeh, southern Iran.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, two utility providers supplying electricity, water, and oxygen to petrochemical plants in Assaluyeh were targeted, leaving all facilities without power until operations are restored. The agency added that Pars Petrochemical Company was not affected.
Israel carried out a similar strike on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone in southwest Khuzestan province on Saturday, a local Iranian official said, adding that five people were killed.
"At this point, the two facilities, which together account for roughly 85 percent of Iran's petrochemical exports, have been taken out of operation and are no longer functioning," Katz said.
"This represents a severe economic blow amounting to tens of billions of dollars to the Iranian regime."
Israel also carried out strikes last month on gas facilities at the South Pars Special Economic Zone in Asaluyeh.
The South Pars/North Dome mega-field—the largest known natural gas reserve in the world—is shared between Iran and Qatar.
In recent days, Israel has targeted key industrial sectors as part of the ongoing military campaign against Iran.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israeli strikes had destroyed around 70 percent of Iran's steel production capacity, significantly undermining Tehran's ability to manufacture weapons.
Steel is a strategically important material used in industrial and military production, including for missiles, drones, and ships.
Katz said he and Netanyahu had ordered the military "to continue striking with full force Iran's national infrastructure."
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