A Tehran resident told CNN that the atmosphere in the city after the series of explosions made everything "like the apocalypse".
The city is dark, the sky is pitch black" - this person recounted. "The sky is also full of clouds and dark, making us feel like we are suffocating.
This resident said he witnessed a large explosion on the night of March 7, when the sky suddenly lit up by a giant fireball. "I've never seen anything like it. It's like the apocalypse, or my imagination of hell," the witness said.
According to this person, the fire broke out quite close to their residence. "It's really lucky that we are still safe at this time.
Israel targets fuel facilities
The Israeli military said it attacked fuel storage facilities in Tehran on the evening of March 7, in a new phase of the military campaign against Iran.
According to Israel, the targets hit included fuel depots supplied to various consumers, including units related to the Iranian military.
Images from the scene show a large fire breaking out at the Shahran oil depot in the suburbs of Tehran. Some videos posted by local media show huge flames rising in the night.
The attacks are said to be the first in the current war directly targeting oil storage and oil refining facilities inside Iran.
Tehran submerged in black smoke
People in the Iranian capital woke up on the morning of March 8 in a scene of the sky covered in thick black clouds. Rainwater falling down is also dark in color, seemingly dyed by smoke and dust from large fires.
Iranian state media reported that Israeli and US missiles hit fuel depots and oil tanks in 3 different areas of Tehran overnight.
An official quoted by Fars news agency said that some fuel tanks at the Tehran oil depot were hit by bullets, but the main oil refinery was not hit as previously rumored.
According to Fars, firefighters are still trying to control the fire, but have not been able to completely extinguish it.
Fuel distribution system disrupted
Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said that the night attacks disrupted the city's fuel distribution system.
He affirmed that there is no shortage of gasoline and oil, but the complete restoration of the distribution network may take more time. The government also called on people to save fuel in the current period.
Global oil market falters
The escalating war in the Middle East also shocked the world oil and gas markets. Brent crude oil prices rose 27% in just one week, the strongest increase since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The situation became even more tense as the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil transportation route - was almost paralyzed by conflict.
According to reports, since Israel and the US launched an offensive into Iran on February 28, at least 1,332 people have been killed.
Observers believe that Israel's start attacking Iranian energy facilities may mark a new escalation in the war, with the risk of a profound impact not only on the Middle East region but also on the global economy.
