Trump threatens attacks on Iranian power plants over opening Strait of Hormuz
Why it matters: Escalating threats between the U.S., Iran, and Israel push the region closer to a full-scale war.
- President Trump threatened to destroy "various POWER PLANTS" in Iran, starting with the biggest, if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours, according to his social media post.
- Iran warned that any strike on its energy facilities would trigger retaliatory attacks on U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region, as reported by state media.
- Iranian missiles struck the Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, near Israel's main nuclear research center, causing widespread damage and dozens of injuries, marking the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israel's air defense in that area.
- Israel's military confirmed it was unable to intercept the missiles, a development Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called a "new phase of the battle."
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil pathway, and its closure has already led to cuts in output from major oil producers.
- The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported no damage or abnormal radiation levels at the Israeli nuclear center, despite the nearby strikes.
President Trump issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to "obliterate" its power plants if the Strait of Hormuz isn't fully reopened, escalating a conflict now entering its fourth week. This threat followed Iranian missile strikes near Israel's main nuclear research center, which injured dozens and signaled a dangerous new phase in the regional conflict.
