Reacting strongly to US President Donald Trump’s threat of strikes on Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz shipping route is not opened, Tehran on Sunday hit back, saying it will target regional energy and water desalination infrastructure if its fuel and energy sites are attacked.
“Following previous warnings, if Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the U.S. and the regime in the region will be targeted,” the Iranian military’s operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said, according to the state-run Fars news agency.
The Iranian response came hours after US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had blocked following US and Israeli strikes.
Trump Hormuz Ultimatum
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran must ensure the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open, without threat” within 48 hours. Failing that, he warned, the US would begin targeting Iranian power plants.
He added that any such strikes would begin with “the biggest one first,” a remark that has drawn attention to the country’s largest electricity facilities.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” he wrote.
Earlier this week, Trump said that the US may soon wind down its military operations against Iran, claiming that key objectives of the campaign are close to being achieved.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the terrorist regime of Iran: (1) Completely degrading Iranian missile capability, launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s defense industrial base. (3) Eliminating their navy and air force, including anti-aircraft weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to nuclear capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others,” Trump said.
He further said that the Strait of Hormuz will have to be guarded by countries using the shipping route.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other nations that use it — the United States does not! If asked, we will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy military operation for them,” he added.