Iran’s cities saw widespread panic at gas stations, and the country’s airspace was temporarily closed, following Israel’s threats of retaliation for a missile attack allegedly launched by Iran on Tuesday. In a significant escalation, Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israeli and U.S. forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran’s rulers had made a “big mistake” by attacking, promising a powerful response. This threat led to long lines of vehicles at gas stations across Iranian cities, with drivers rushing to fill their tanks in fear of potential fuel shortages. Videos circulated on social media, verified by VOA Persian, showed these scenes in Tehran and other cities. However, VOA could not independently confirm the footage due to reporting restrictions within Iran.
In an additional response, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization suspended all domestic and international flights until early Thursday, citing passenger safety concerns. According to FlightAware, normal flight operations resumed after dawn on Thursday.
Speculation emerged that Israel may target Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure in its impending response, a move that could have severe economic consequences for Tehran. According to Homayoun Falakshahi, a senior oil analyst at Kpler, Iran’s economy heavily relies on energy exports, particularly to China, despite U.S. sanctions.
Though the possibility of Israel striking Iran’s oil infrastructure remains unconfirmed, Falakshahi noted that targeting such facilities could provoke a significant response from China, which is a major buyer of Iranian crude oil. Iran continues to export an average of 1.54 million barrels of crude oil and condensate per day, according to Kpler data, largely in defiance of Western sanctions.
The potential economic ramifications of a retaliatory strike on Iran’s energy sector could be vast, underscoring the complex geopolitical and economic dynamics at play. As tensions between the two nations escalate, the international community watches closely, bracing for further developments.
