Tehran – The Iranian capital awoke to a choking haze of toxic smoke on Sunday after Israeliairstrikes targeted major fuel storage facilities, triggering massive fires and prompting urgent health warnings from officials. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Tehran vowing retaliation and warning it is prepared to fight for months.
Inferno in the Capital
Large explosions rocked Tehran and the neighbouring Alborz province late on Saturday, with verified videos showing huge balls of fire and thick columns of black smoke rising into the night sky . The Israeli military confirmed it struck approximately 30 fuel depots across Iran, describing the operation as a “significant strike” aimed at dismantling military infrastructure used by Iran’s armed forces .
Iran’s National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company reported that multiple oil depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces were hit by missiles and caught fire, with firefighting teams working to contain the blazes . The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that six people were killed and 21 others injured in an attack on one storage facility in Alborz province .
This weekend’s strikes represent the first major assault on Iran’s energy infrastructure since the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 1,200 others .
Environmental and Health Crisis
The aftermath of the strikes has created a public health emergency in the capital. Residents reported a disturbing phenomenon on Sunday morning, with a CNN correspondent in Tehran describing it as “raining oil” as residue from burning fuel depots mixed with precipitation .
The Iranian Red Crescent Society issued an urgent warning for residents to remain indoors due to the risk of lung and skin diseases from acid rain and toxic vapours produced by burning fuel and chemicals . According to Iranian state media, pollutants have already entered Tehran’s urban areas, with officials warning that toxic compounds from the burning oil depots could generate dangerous acid rain if precipitation continues .
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the strikes as “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” alleging that by targeting fuel depots, the aggressors were “releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air, poisoning civilians, devastating the environment, and endangering lives on a massive scale” .
Iran’s Warning: Ready for a Long Fight
Amid the devastation, Iranian military officials have issued stark warnings about their capacity and intent to sustain a prolonged conflict. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the country is prepared to fight a “long war” and may deploy advanced weapons systems that have never been used before in the current conflict .
Major General Ali Mohammad Naeini, an IRGC spokesman, stated that Iran is fully prepared for what it described as a “long war” and is ready to introduce new advanced weapons systems. “These technologies have not yet been widely used,” Naeini said, adding that Iran’s enemies could face intense attacks in the next wave of military operations .
The IRGC also confirmed it had launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli infrastructure, claiming responsibility for attacking a refinery in Israel’s Haifa using Kheibarshekan missiles in response to the strikes on Iranian energy facilities .
Regional Retaliation Threats
Perhaps most alarmingly for global markets, Iran has threatened to expand the conflict to regional energy infrastructure if attacks on its own facilities continue. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned Muslim states in the region to prevent US and Israeli attacks on Iranian fuel and energy facilities, cautioning that Tehran would respond with similar actions if strikes persist .
“Otherwise, similar actions will be taken in the region,” Zolfaghari said. “If you can tolerate oil prices above $200 per barrel, keep playing this game” . A similar warning came from another Iranian military spokesperson, who noted that Iran has so far avoided targeting regional energy infrastructure but cautioned that if it does so, global oil prices could surge dramatically .
US Concerns and Political Fallout
The scale of Saturday’s strikes has reportedly caught Washington off guard and created rare friction between the United States and Israel. According to US news outlet Axios, American officials were surprised by the breadth of the attacks, which exceeded what they expected after Israel notified Washington ahead of the operation .
“The president doesn’t like the attack on the oil facilities. He wants to save the oil, not burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices,” said an adviser to President Donald Trump . A senior US official added, “We don’t think it was a good idea” .
Washington’s concerns appear rooted in both political and strategic calculations. With gasoline prices rising more than 14 percent in the past week across the United States, the White House faces potential domestic political fallout . Officials also fear that attacking infrastructure serving ordinary Iranians could backfire by strengthening public support for the Iranian leadership .
Humanitarian Toll
The human cost of the escalating conflict continues to mount. Since fighting intensified on February 28, Iranian officials report that 1,205 civilians have been killed, including 194 children . Residents described living in a climate of fear as airstrikes continue and internet services are intermittently cut.
“It’s very scary. Day and night, eating and sleeping — it’s all over the place,” one unnamed resident of western Tehran told reporters . Another resident in central Tehran expressed uncertainty about the future while noting that basic services were still functioning: “God knows what will happen to us. We still have water, electricity and food” .
Regional Spillover
The conflict has already begun to spread beyond direct strikes between Iran and Israel. Iran has reportedly attacked infrastructure in Gulf Arab states, including a desalination plant in Bahrain, raising concerns about broader regional destabilisation . Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, affecting oil exports from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, and Kuwait .
European nations are also feeling the impact, with natural gas prices surging approximately 70 percent since the conflict escalated . Analysts warn that if hostilities continue, energy supplies could be further disrupted, driving prices higher and potentially triggering another energy crisis for Europe .
What Comes Next
As thick smoke continues to rise over Tehran and residents grapple with environmental hazards, the region stands at a precarious crossroads. Iran has demonstrated both its vulnerability to precision strikes on energy infrastructure and its willingness to threaten asymmetric retaliation across the region.
With Tehran warning it can fight for months and potentially introduce new weapons systems, and with Washington showing discomfort with the scope of Israeli operations, the coming days may prove critical in determining whether this conflict expands further or whether diplomatic offensives can gain traction.
