US, Israeli strikes force Iran to target regional energy infrastructure — IRGC

Iran did not intend to target oil and gas facilities in neighbouring countries, but attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian energy infrastructure on the morning of March 18 forced Tehran to act, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said.

The IRGC stated that following enemy aggression against Iran’s energy infrastructure, the conflict had entered a new phase, and the need to defend national infrastructure had compelled Tehran to target energy facilities linked to the United States and American shareholders, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Iranian armed forces “immediately launched offensive operations after the hostile act and, in the course of the retaliatory campaign, inflicted proportional damage by targeting a number of oil facilities connected to US interests in the region,” the IRGC added.

The corps also announced the completion of the 63rd wave of retaliatory strikes, which targeted energy infrastructure in neighbouring countries associated with US interests.

By Jeyhun Aghazada