Further escalation threatens after attack on Iran's gas industry

The military leadership justified this by stating that civilian and vital infrastructure had been attacked, the Fars news agency reported. The time of limited battles is over. The pendulum of war is moving in the direction of a "comprehensive economic war". Should the Revolutionary Guards make good on their threat to attack energy industry facilities in neighboring countries, they would be drawn even further into the war.

Attack near the world's largest gas field

Citing Israeli government circles, the media reported that the country's air force had flown the attacks on the gas industry in the Persian Gulf. Petrochemical plants near the industrial city of Asalujeh were affected, reported the news agencies Tasnim and Mehr.

South Pars, the largest gas field in the world, which Iran shares with Qatar, is located near Asalujeh on the Persian Gulf. The region is central to Iran's energy sector and accounts for around 70 percent of the country's domestic gas supply. The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Israel of taking a "dangerous and irresponsible step" in the midst of the military escalation.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of an expansion of the Iran war with global consequences. The war has "a real potential for escalation, which could plunge not only this region but the world as a whole into a major crisis", he said in Berlin.

Israel: Iran's intelligence chief killed

Israel continues its series of attacks on top Iranian officials. Intelligence Minister Ismail Chatib has been killed, announced Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. There was initially no confirmation from Iran. According to the defense minister, Israel's leadership has also approved the killing of every high-ranking Iranian representative. No further authorization was required for this.

Larijani and his son to be buried

Israel has already killed dozens of leading figures in the Iranian power structure during the Iran war, including Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani. Government supporters gathered in Tehran for the funeral service for Larijani and his son, who was also killed.

Iranian secret service takes action against opposition members

Iran's secret service is now searching for government opponents. According to Tehran, it has taken action against dozens of opposition networks - in particular supporters of the Shah's son Reza Pahlavi, who claims a leading role in the opposition abroad.

At least twelve dead in Beirut

According to Lebanese reports, at least 12 people have been killed and 41 others injured in Israeli air strikes in the capital Beirut. Early on Wednesday morning, an explosion rocked the Bashura district: according to a photographer for the German Press Agency (dpa), a high-rise building was hit and completely reduced to rubble. Israel's military had previously warned of attacks. The neighborhood had already been the target of air strikes last week.

Impact on the site of an Iranian nuclear power plant

In the course of the attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran, a projectile hit the site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to information from Tehran. The power plant itself was not damaged, according to the Iranian authorities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). There were also no casualties. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for maximum restraint in the conflict in order to avoid a nuclear accident.

USA deploys bunker busters against Iranian positions

The US armed forces reportedly dropped bunker-busting bombs on specially protected Iranian missile positions in the Strait of Hormuz - a strategically important strait through which large quantities of oil are shipped. Several of the bombs, each weighing just under 2.3 tons, were used successfully, according to the US Regional Command for the Middle East. The attack was aimed at positions with cruise missiles that were to be used against ships in the strait.

Discussion about "imminent threat"

US intelligence coordinator Tulsi Gabbard has since commented on the resignation of a government employee in protest against the Iran war. It is up to US President Donald Trump, as commander-in-chief, to judge what constitutes an imminent threat and what does not, and whether he is taking measures he deems necessary to protect the safety of his own troops, the US population and the country, she wrote on X.

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joseph Kent, announced his resignation on Tuesday because, in his view, Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the USA. It was obvious that the United States had started the war due to Israeli pressure.