Israel has struck several Iranian fuel sites, including oil storage depots, marking the first direct attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure since the war between Israel, the United States, and Iran began. The strikes targeted facilities in Tehran and Alborz provinces that Israel said were being used by Iran’s armed forces.

Iran’s energy sector is central to its economy, generating tens of billions of dollars annually through exports and supplying much of the country’s domestic power. Much of Iran’s oil exports are purchased by China. Analysts warn that sustained attacks on this infrastructure could push Iran deeper into economic crisis and significantly weaken the government.

The country was already facing severe economic strain before the war, including currency collapse and widespread protests that were violently suppressed. Previous strikes have damaged pipelines, refineries, and power stations, contributing to rolling power and water outages that disrupted daily life.

Experts caution that large-scale destruction of oil and gas facilities could take decades to repair. They warn that even a future government would struggle to maintain stability and meet basic needs if the country’s energy backbone were devastated.