TEHRAN — Iranian military commanders have ordered the immediate evacuation of five strategic energy facilities across the Gulf region, signaling Tehran's intention to strike back following Israeli attacks on its domestic gas infrastructure.

The Revolutionary Guard Corps identified specific targets including Saudi Arabia's Samref refinery and al-Jubail petrochemical complex, along with the Masaiid Holding Company facilities. The warning extends to the UAE's al-Hosn gas field and Qatar's Ras Laffan refinery, according to military sources cited by Fars News Agency. Iranian officials described these installations as "legitimate targets" that would face attack within hours.

Regional security analysts view the threats as Tehran's most direct challenge to Gulf energy security since the 2019 drone strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities. "Iran is signaling it will no longer respect the informal boundaries that have kept Gulf energy infrastructure relatively safe," said Dr. Mehran Kamrava, director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at Georgetown University Qatar. The targeted facilities represent billions of dollars in critical energy infrastructure serving global markets.

Military sources in Tehran told Fars News that Iran's response targets "enemy infrastructure that was previously thought to be safe," marking a potential shift in the rules of engagement across the region. Energy markets have already begun responding to the escalation, with crude oil futures climbing sharply in Asian trading. "This represents a fundamental change in Iran's strategic calculus," observed Jane Kinninmont, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. The threats come as regional powers reassess security arrangements that have underpinned Gulf stability for decades.