– / AFP
Iran fears that its energy infrastructure will be targeted by Israel. (Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on October 4 defended Tuesday’s missile attack on Israel.)
INTERNATIONAL – Fear of an imminent attack on strategic targets. Five days after the attack of 200 Iranian missiles on Israel, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has still not responded but is not skimping on threatening declarations. Tehran’s main concern is that Israel would strike at the heart of its energy infrastructure, which would mark a turning point in the conflict between the two countries.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Iran this Sunday, October 6, of retaliatory strikes similar to those carried out “ in Gaza and Beirut.
For his part, the head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Araghchi, warned that “for every action [d’Israël]there would be a proportional and similar reaction from Iran, and even stronger”.
Iranian Oil Minister visits key energy site
Aware that Israeli speeches fueled by threats are not empty words, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad visited a key oil site in the country this Sunday. He “arrived this morning on Kharg Island to tour oil industry facilities and meet employees”reported the ministry’s organ, Shana. Located in the western Gulf, Kharg Island is home to Iran’s largest crude oil export terminal.
During his visit, the minister mainly met General Mohammad Hossein Bargahi, commander of the 4th region of the Revolutionary Guards Navy (ideological army of the Islamic Republic), responsible for ensuring the security of the area. “This meeting took place in order to verify the security of the South Pars platforms (gas and oil complex located in the same region, Editor’s note) and to report on the effective actions of the Guardian navy in this regard”announced the official agency, Irna.
The Iranian minister also visited the port city of Assalouyeh on Saturday, an important petrochemical center in the country also on the Gulf, citing “a normal business trip” according to state television.
Joe Biden against strikes on “oil fields”
Even the United States does not support its historic ally on an attack on Iranian energy infrastructure. “If I were in their place, I would consider other options than hitting oil fields in Iran », Affirmed on this point, American President Joe Biden on Saturday.
His predecessor Donald Trump, candidate in the November 5 presidential election, on the contrary affirmed on Friday that Israel should ” hit “ Iranian nuclear facilities. Officially, Iran is developing its nuclear capabilities for civilian use, but they are suspected of serving military ambitions and being used by Tehran as a deterrent tool. This has been poisoning relations between Iran and Israel for decades.
Joe Biden is putting pressure on Israel not to cross this red line, because the economic consequences of the destruction of Iranian oil infrastructure would be significant.
Tehran could “close the Strait of Hormuz”
Indeed, oil prices have already soared in line with market concerns about possible Israeli strikes on key oil sites. On Thursday, the price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea for delivery in December, for example, gained 5.03%, to close at $77.62.
Iran, one of the ten largest oil producers, produced 3.4 million barrels per day in August, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). In the event of damage to its infrastructure, Tehran could “close the Strait of Hormuz”the only crossing point for maritime exports from several major producers in the Middle East, estimates Bill O’Grady of Confluence Investment, who has covered the market for 35 years.
“More than all the other events of this type that I have seen in my career, I tell myself that this one could really do some nasty things”commented the analyst to Agence France presse.
American warships are stationed in the area and could intervene, “but this has never been done before”warns Bill O’Grady. “And even if the strait reopened, how safe would it be? »he asks himself.
Iran has already prepared its counterattack
Closure of the Strait of Hormuz or not, Tehran has already prepared its response plan in the event that Israel carries out an attack against Iranian territory.
“The draft necessary response to possible action by the Zionists is completely ready, and if Israel acts, the Iranian counterattack will be implemented”the Tasnim agency said on Sunday, citing a military source.
Iran “ has a list of numerous Israeli targets »and Tuesday’s operation “shown that we can shave any point we want”added the same source.
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