Israel Attacks Iran's Petrochemical Complex Following Trump's Threat to Open Strait of Hormuz
Israel has bombarded Iran’s petrochemical complex. This attack occurred after Iran opposed threats from United States President Donald Trump, who vowed to destroy civilian infrastructure if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
According to AFP on Monday (6 April 2026), Israel targeted Iran’s largest petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh on the Iranian Gulf coast. Local media reported several explosions there.
Iran’s National Petrochemical Company stated it is assessing the damage. Iranian media reported “minor damage” after a second complex near Shiraz in central Iran was also hit by Israeli strikes.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the complex contributes about 50 per cent of Iran’s petrochemical production, valued at “tens of billions of dollars”.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, warned against further attacks near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant.
The White House said Trump has not approved any draft agreement to end the fighting. This follows media reports on a possible ceasefire proposal.
A 45-day ceasefire is “one of many ideas, and the President (Trump) has not approved it,” a White House official told AFP, ahead of Trump’s press conference at 5:00 p.m. local time where he is scheduled to discuss the conflict.
Trump has given Iran until midnight local time on Wednesday (8 April) to open the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas flows. If not, Iran will face US attacks on bridges and power plants.
In a harsh, profanity-laced social media post on Sunday (5 April), Trump demanded: “Open that damn strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll live in Hell”.
Iran opposed Trump. An Iranian military spokesperson said Iran will continue the war “as long as political leaders deem it appropriate”.
It is known that the Israeli attack killed a senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Meanwhile, Iran retaliated across the region with drones and missiles, warning of “far more devastating” attacks if Trump follows through on his threat.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil and gas prices to surge. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has prompted countries worldwide to implement measures to mitigate its impact.
However, the Revolutionary Guard stated that the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its previous status, especially for the US and Israel”.