Before it can be exported or refined, half the country’s oil output (and 5% of the world’s) must be processed at a single, supersized facility. Located in a politically and militarily unstable region, it has been poorly protected from a potential attack from the air. What could go wrong?
It’s only puzzling how and why disaster didn’t strike much earlier considering the temptation, a system vulnerable largely by design.
What’s next? Quite possibly nothing at all – no action – in the near future. A huge tactical gain for Iran but in a longer run, probably the beginning of the end for the regime in Tehran. During its journey to the end of the line, it might still see Saudi Arabia disintegrate. It just won’t help.