Iran Warns Gulf States to Evacuate Petrochemical Sites Amid Escalation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has called for the immediate evacuation of petrochemical facilities across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, raising fears of imminent retaliation in the escalating regional conflict.

The evacuation warning comes after reported strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, a major energy hub, allegedly carried out in a joint operation by the United States and Israel.

Iranian state-affiliated media said the attacks targeted key petrochemical infrastructure, prompting Tehran to signal possible countermeasures.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged civilians and workers to leave areas surrounding petrochemical facilities, indicating that such sites could be targeted.

The warning fits a broader pattern in which Iran has issued similar evacuation alerts before attacks or disruptions.

Earlier in the conflict, Tehran warned about major UAE ports such as Fujairah, Jebel Ali, and Khalifa, accusing them of supporting US operations. Those warnings were followed by reported fires and disruptions in energy hubs.

Iran has also threatened US-affiliated industrial sites across the region, warning they could be “turned to ashes” if Iranian energy assets continue to be targeted.

In recent weeks, Iranian strikes or related incidents have affected key Gulf energy facilities:

• Oil sites in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, including disruptions at Ras Tanura.
• LNG and petrochemical operations in Qatar’s Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
• UAE energy hubs and ports, including Fujairah, where fires were reported.

These incidents have already disrupted production and raised concerns over supply stability.

The latest warning significantly increases risks to global energy markets, as Gulf countries host some of the world’s largest petrochemical and oil export facilities.

The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz remain critical chokepoints for global energy supply, and any escalation could trigger further oil price spikes and shipping disruptions.