Israel Strikes Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex: Why Was This Facility Targeted?

In the first open confrontation between Iran and Israel since April 7, the Israeli military announced it had struck the Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex in southwestern Iran on Monday (9/6/2026) morning. This attack occurred after several weeks without direct strikes being launched by either country. According to a report by The New York Times, the targeted facility was the Karun Petrochemical Plant. Iranian state television reported that the facility was hit twice at around 7.30 a.m. local time, but no casualties were reported. The Deputy Governor of Khuzestan for Security, Valiollah Hayati, told Mehr News Agency that the Zionist enemy attacked the Karun Mahshahr Petrochemical Company, and part of the industrial area suffered damage from falling projectiles. Following the attack, the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone Organisation announced an emergency evacuation for morning shift workers, as reported by Iran’s official news agency, IRNA. Officially known as the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex, it is the largest petrochemical complex in Iran. It is located near the city of Mahshahr and the Bandar Imam Khomeini Industrial Port on the coast of the Persian Gulf.