US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, giving Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping or risk the destruction of its energy infrastructure.
The warning came as Iran carried out its most destructive missile strikes yet on Israel.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the US would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, “starting with the biggest one first,” if the strait was not fully reopened within 48 hours, setting a Monday deadline of 23:44 GMT.
The move came a day after Trump suggested he was considering “winding down” military operations in the region following three weeks of war. Meanwhile, thousands of additional US Marines have been deployed to the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended the restrictions, saying Tehran was limiting passage only for vessels from countries involved in attacks against Iran and would allow others safe passage.
In response to Trump’s threat, Iran’s army announced it would target energy and desalination infrastructure “belonging to the US and the regime in the region,” according to Fars News Agency.
The ultimatum coincided with Iran’s missile strikes on southern Israel, injuring more than 100 people. The attacks, which bypassed Israeli missile defense systems, caused extensive damage to residential buildings.
In the town of Arad, 84 people were injured, 10 seriously, while in nearby Dimona, 33 were wounded. Dimona is home to a facility widely believed to host Israel’s nuclear arsenal, though the country has never confirmed its nuclear capability.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation “on all fronts” after what he described as a “very difficult evening.” Hours later, the Israeli military said it had launched airstrikes on Tehran.
Iran stated the Dimona attack was retaliation for Israeli strikes on its Natanz nuclear facility, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claiming responsibility for targeting other southern Israeli towns as well as military sites in Kuwait and the UAE.
The Natanz facility, which hosts underground uranium-enriching centrifuges, was damaged during the June 2025 conflict. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi called for “military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident.”
The escalation marks three weeks of heavy US-Israeli bombardment, which has so far failed to curb Iran’s missile and drone retaliations.
Iran also attempted a long-range strike on the US-UK base at Diego Garcia, around 4,000 km away, according to a UK official.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint carrying a fifth of global oil trade, remains effectively closed. Crude oil prices have surged, with Brent crude trading above $105 a barrel.
A coalition of nations, including the UK, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Australia, the UAE, and Bahrain, condemned Iran’s blockade of the strait, pledging to ensure safe passage. Trump criticized NATO allies as “cowards” and urged them to secure the vital waterway.
Analysts note Tehran has demonstrated resilience despite losing top leaders and facing sustained military pressure. Neil Quilliam of Chatham House said Iran’s response has been “more durable than expected.”
As the conflict enters its fourth week, Iran marked Eid al-Fitr amid war. The country’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained out of public view, with judiciary head Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei leading prayers at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran.
“The atmosphere of the New Year was spreading through the city,” said Farid, an advertising executive in Tehran, “but the thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful.”
AFP
