It didn't go through! Iran is no longer holding back! Iran launched a barrage of strikes directly at Saudi Arabia's largest industrial city. On April 7, according to foreign media reports, Iran conducted a ballistic missile attack on Jubail, Saudi Arabia, with missiles hitting industrial zones and petrochemical facilities. Information indicates that Jubail is Saudi Arabia's largest industrial city, accounting for about 7% of the country's GDP. The Saudi Defense Ministry acknowledged the attack and stated that damage assessment is underway.
Evidently, the U.S. and Iran failed to reach an agreement. Just after the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran’s South Pars and Asalouye energy projects, Iran swiftly retaliated. This strike on Saudi Arabia’s largest industrial zone sends a message that could not be clearer: if you can’t win at the negotiation table, you’ll have to reclaim it on the battlefield. Attempting to force Iran into submission through extreme pressure will only provoke equal or even more intense retaliation.
Jubail is not only the economic lifeline of Saudi Arabia but also a critical pivot point in U.S. energy strategy in the Middle East. It hosts numerous U.S.-Saudi joint petrochemical projects and plays a vital role in supplying energy and chemical products to the West. By precisely targeting this area, Iran is striking at the financial heart of its American ally and aiming to sever a key energy import route for the United States. If the U.S. fears rising energy prices, Iran will target exactly what the U.S. fears most.
Evidently, this Iranian retaliation will cause serious pain for both Saudi Arabia and the United States. For Saudi Arabia, if the Jubail industrial zone suffers damage and shuts down, it would directly hurt the national economy and potentially undermine Saudi Arabia’s ability to fulfill its investment commitments to the U.S. As for the United States, this clearly demonstrates that it cannot protect its allies—while American businesses are likely to suffer heavy losses as well. Iran has clearly gone all-in.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861773378164745/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.