Iran strikes near Israeli nuclear research center as Trump threatens attacks on Iranian power plants
Why it matters: This marks a dangerous escalation, threatening regional energy infrastructure and global oil supply.
- Iranian missiles struck Dimona and Arad in southern Israel, causing significant damage and injuries, marking the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israeli air defenses near the nuclear site.
- President Trump threatened to destroy Iranian power plants, starting with the largest, if Iran fails to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, citing soaring oil prices and domestic pressure.
- Iran warned that any strike on its energy facilities would trigger attacks on US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region, according to state media.
- Israel's military acknowledged its inability to intercept the Iranian missiles, a development Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called a "new phase of the battle."
- The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint, with attacks halting nearly all tanker traffic and leading to cuts in global oil output.
- The UN nuclear watchdog reported no damage or abnormal radiation levels at the Israeli nuclear research center, despite the proximity of the strikes.
The war between Iran and Israel escalated dangerously as Iranian missiles struck Israeli cities near a nuclear research center, following an attack on Iran's Natanz enrichment site. Simultaneously, President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to obliterate Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz isn't fully opened, prompting Iran to warn of retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli energy assets.
