President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of the “obliteration” of Iranian power plants if the demand isn’t met. The threat came after Iranian missiles struck two southern Israeli cities, injuring dozens and impacting areas near a nuclear research center.
In response, Iran threatened to target energy and water infrastructure across the Middle East, including facilities in Gulf countries dependent on desalination, if its power grid is attacked. Iranian officials stated they “will not hesitate” to defend their land and people, and warned of “irreversibly” destroying vital regional infrastructure.
The situation escalated from discussions of winding down military operations to a direct threat of force, raising fears of wider regional conflict. Iran also vowed to completely shut the Strait of Hormuz should the US act on its ultimatum, potentially paralyzing global energy markets.