OIL infrastructure in Iran has been struck for the first time since the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and the United States–Israel alliance, as the conflict entered its 9th day on Sunday.

Air strikes late Saturday triggered massive fires after hitting multiple energy facilities around the Iranian capital, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky over Tehran and nearby areas. according to Al Jazeera.

Iranian authorities said the attacks targeted 4 major oil storage sites as well as an oil production transfer centre located in Tehran and neighbouring Alborz province. Images circulating online showed dense smoke rising above parts of the capital, with residents reporting a strong smell of burning fuel across several districts.

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the sites affected include the Aghdasieh oil warehouse in northeast Tehran, the Tehran refinery in the southern part of the city, the Shahran oil depot in western Tehran, and another oil storage facility located in Karaj, the capital of Alborz province.

READ ALSO: Kuwait cuts oil production as Qatar warns prices could hit $150

Witness accounts suggested that the strike on the Shahran depot caused oil to spill onto nearby roads and residential streets, heightening fears of wider environmental and safety risks in the densely populated area.

Iranian state media described the incident as a coordinated attack carried out by the United States and Israel, which it referred to as the ‘Zionist regime.’ Officials said the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least four tanker drivers working at the facilities.

Despite the damage, authorities insisted that fuel distribution across the country had not been disrupted. Emergency services and security forces were deployed to battle the fires and contain the impact of the explosions, while officials attempted to reassure residents that supplies of petrol and other fuel products remain stable.

The Israeli military acknowledged targeting ‘a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran,’ saying the locations were being used to support military infrastructure.

The latest bombardment marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which has now spread across multiple countries in the region. Since fighting began, officials report that more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, while around 300 fatalities have been recorded in Lebanon. In Israel, authorities say roughly a dozen people have died during the hostilities.

Reporting from Tehran, journalist Tohid Asadi described the strikes on the oil installations as highly unusual and potentially dangerous for residents in the capital.

He said while fuel depots had been targeted during previous clashes, the scale and location of the latest attack were unprecedented, particularly given the environmental risks posed by burning petroleum infrastructure.

According to Asadi, residents woke early on Sunday to signs of severe air pollution, noting that black droplets resembling oily rain appeared on windows in some areas, raising concerns about toxic particles in the atmosphere.

The situation has heightened fears of a public health emergency in Tehran, a city already struggling with chronic air pollution even in peacetime.

Another correspondent, Mohamed Vall, suggested the strikes on fuel infrastructure could be part of a broader psychological strategy aimed at undermining morale among Iranians.

READ ALSO: Oil market braces for turbulence after U.S.-Israel strikes across Iran

By targeting fuel facilities, he said, Israel may be attempting to disrupt logistics and mobility for Iranian forces while also creating anxiety among civilians about potential shortages.

However, analysts note that Iran possesses a vast network of oil storage and refining facilities across the country, meaning the strikes alone are unlikely to trigger a nationwide fuel crisis in the short term.

Nevertheless, the attack underscores the growing economic and environmental stakes of the expanding conflict, particularly for one of the world’s largest oil-producing nations.