Iran's two largest steel plants have been shut down due to multiple rounds of US-Israeli air strikes, the companies operating them say.
Our initial estimate is that restarting these units will take at least six months and up to one year, Mehran Pakbin, deputy head of operations at the Khuzestan Steel Company in south-western Iran, was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Mobarakeh Steel Company stated that its production lines in the centre of the country had completely shut down following the high volume of attacks.
The strikes, which both Israeli media and Iran's foreign minister attribute to Israel’s actions in coordination with the US, could inflict severe damage on Iran's economy.
Iran is known as the 10th largest producer of steel worldwide and is crucial to local construction and manufacturing, as well as for global exports.
Any halt in production may have major repercussions for supply chains and businesses within the country, which are already struggling under extensive Western sanctions.
Iranian authorities reported that Israel targeted their steel factories and other critical infrastructure, causing fears of a broader range of military operations stretching beyond just governmental and military targets.
Recent days have also seen missiles and drone attacks launched from Iran, which further escalates tensions in the region.
Continued military actions and cyber attacks, including one targeting an Amazon cloud computing facility in Bahrain, demonstrate the volatility of the situation.
Amid these developments, communication with Iran has been challenging, with internet connectivity reported at just 1% of normal levels.
