Israel on Monday struck an Iranian petrochemical facility for the first time since a ceasefire took effect in April, signalling a fresh escalation in tensions despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to keep peace talks on track.
The Israeli military said it targeted facilities within the Mahshahr petrochemical complex in southwestern Iran, alongside other military sites. Iranian officials confirmed that parts of the complex were damaged, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The attack came less than a day after Trump reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further military action against Iran, arguing that negotiators were close to reaching a breakthrough agreement.
According to U.S. officials cited by Axios, Trump told Netanyahu during a phone call that additional strikes could jeopardise ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending months of regional conflict.
But hours after that conversation, Israeli forces carried out fresh operations inside Iran.
The latest round of violence followed missile attacks launched by Iran toward Israeli targets. Israel said it was responding to continued threats from Tehran and targeting missile-launch infrastructure.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles in the operation, while Israeli officials said Iran had fired 11 ballistic missiles toward Israel.
The renewed hostilities rattled global energy markets, pushing Brent crude prices up more than three percent and back above $96 per barrel as traders worried about the security of energy supplies from the Gulf.
The escalation has also complicated Trump’s efforts to broker a broader agreement with Tehran. While the U.S. president insists a deal remains within reach, tensions on the ground continue to undermine confidence in the negotiations.
“It’s not going to have any impact on the deal,” Trump told the Financial Times earlier, adding that Netanyahu “doesn’t call the shots.”
The dispute reflects growing friction between Washington and Jerusalem over how to handle the conflict. Trump has repeatedly pressed Israel to limit military operations, particularly in Lebanon, where clashes with Hezbollah have threatened to derail wider peace efforts.
Iran has made clear that any long-term agreement with the United States must also address the fighting in Lebanon and secure Israeli withdrawal from contested areas.
Tehran is additionally demanding the easing of sanctions, access to billions of dollars in frozen assets and recognition of its role in managing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil supplies normally pass.
Despite repeated claims from both Washington and Tehran that a preliminary agreement is close, fresh attacks across the region suggest that diplomacy remains fragile.
With Israel now targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and Tehran continuing to respond militarily, fears are growing that the conflict could once again move beyond isolated exchanges and evolve into a broader regional confrontation.
