President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran’s power plants unless they fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within 48 hours.
He posted the warning on his Truth Social platform, threatening to ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power plants ‘starting with the biggest one first’
Iran, which has kept the vital waterway closed to most shipping since February 28, swiftly pushed back, warning it would retaliate against US and Israeli energy infrastructure if its own facilities were targeted. Iranian officials also said the strait remains open to shipping “not linked to Iran’s enemies.”
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the strait is open to all except the US and Israel, while adding that some ships from “different countries” had already been allowed through. In practice, however, Western-linked vessels face significant hurdles in securing safe passage.
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RT reports: Trump issued an ultimatum to Tehran on Saturday evening after failed attempts to rally European countries to help restore access to the strait.
“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!” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Iran’s largest power plant – the gas-powered Damavand plant – is located near Pakdasht, southeast of Tehran. Other major facilities include the Shahid Abbaspour, Karun-3, and Masjed Soleyman hydroelectric dams in Khuzestan province, as well as the Kerman thermal power plant in Kerman province.
Iran’s sole nuclear power plant is in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf coast. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier this week that a projectile struck a structure about 350 meters from the facility.
