Israeli projectiles struck the Karun Petrochemical Plant in Mahshahr, Iran, on June 8, dealing partial damage to one of the country’s key industrial chemical facilities. No casualties were reported, but the attack marks another escalation in an already volatile conflict between Israel and Iran, and it landed squarely on infrastructure tied to Iran’s broader economic machinery.
The strikes hit around 7:30 AM local time, with two projectiles impacting sections of the plant. Daytime employees across the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone were evacuated following the attack.
What the Karun plant actually does
The Karun plant, operated by the Karoon Petrochemical Company, specializes in producing isocyanates, specifically toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). These are the chemical building blocks for polyurethane foams, coatings, and adhesives used in everything from car seats to home insulation.
The plant has a production capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year for each of those two chemicals.
