US-Israel War on Iran: Strikes Hit Nuclear and Petrochemical Sites as Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum
US-Israeli military operations against Iran intensified on Saturday, with strikes targeting petrochemical facilities in Khuzestan province and a site near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, as President Donald Trump issued a fresh 48-hour ultimatum demanding Tehran open the Strait of Hormuz.
One person — identified as an Iranian national employed at the Bushehr plant — was killed by projectile fragments in the strike near the facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which added that a building at the site was damaged by shockwaves. Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom subsequently evacuated 198 of its remaining staff from the plant, with its chief Alexei Likhachev warning that events were unfolding "in line with the worst-case scenario."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that strikes near Bushehr posed significant risks not only to Iran but to the wider Gulf region, cautioning that radioactive contamination could potentially threaten populations in Gulf Arab capitals. Moscow condemned the attack in unusually sharp terms, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova calling it an "evil deed" and demanding that strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities cease immediately.
Petrochemical Infrastructure Targeted
Six petrochemical facilities in Khuzestan province were struck, including the strategically significant Imam Port and Bu Ali complexes, which serve as primary raw material suppliers for petrochemical plants across Iran. Analysts noted the strikes represent a deliberate shift from direct military targeting toward the systematic degradation of Iran's economic infrastructure — a sector Tehran has relied upon to circumvent Western sanctions.
Writing on Truth Social, President Trump reminded Tehran of a 10-day deadline he had previously granted at Iran's request, stating: "Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them." The deadline, tied to demands that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or reach a deal, is set to expire in the early hours of Tuesday morning Tehran time.
Regional Escalation
The UAE reported intercepting 23 ballistic missiles and 56 drones launched from Iran on Saturday, the heaviest barrage the country has faced since the conflict began. Israel's military meanwhile reported detecting a second wave of Iranian ballistic missiles within less than two hours, while Israeli air strikes hit multiple towns in southern Lebanon. Iran's military announced it had used a newly developed air defence system to bring down a US fighter jet — a claim that came after both Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth had publicly asserted complete air dominance over Iran.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards also launched a ballistic missile from Gorgan, with footage circulating on social media appearing to show the launch from what sources identified as an IRGC base in the Hashem Abad area. Israel said it destroyed a mobile ballistic missile launcher in Tabriz, neutralising planned strikes from western Iran.
Cultural Damage and International Diplomacy
Iranian authorities confirmed that 55 public libraries have been damaged during the conflict, two of them completely destroyed. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Golestan Palace in Tehran was also reported damaged in earlier strikes. Inside Iran, authorities in Gilan province announced the arrest of 101 citizens since the war began, on charges including "disturbing public order" and filming restricted areas for distribution to media.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, described the conflict as having produced a "geostrategic impasse" and called for intensified international efforts toward a peaceful resolution. He also noted that NATO air defence support for Turkey during the war had demonstrated alliance solidarity.